Five Tips for the Perfect Grilled Vegetables

Here at Prinos, we believe a healthy diet is the key to overall wellness. And one thing we all know is how important it is to eat enough vegetables. But learning how to incorporate more vegetables into our diet in interesting and tasty ways can be tricky.

If you want to eat more fresh vegetables, but aren’t sure how, a great way is to grill them. Grilled vegetables are packed full of flavour; they’re quick and easy to prepare and make a healthy addition to any meal.

And although grilling vegetables is easy, there are some secrets that guarantee perfection. Here are our top tips on the best way to grill vegetables. Bon appétit!

• Cut them correctly: In order to make sure your vegetables cook quickly and evenly, cut them into pieces that will allow the most surface area to cook. Round vegetables like onions, courgettes and aubergines can be cut into circles; peppers can be cut into thick strips and some vegetables – like carrots, mushrooms or asparagus can be grilled whole.
• Marinade before cooking: To make sure your vegetables don’t dry out when you grill them, marinade or season them after they’ve been cut. For a simple seasoning, opt for a light drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Oregano and rosemary are also great options for a bit of extra flavour; alternatively, try marinating in your favourite sauce – like teriyaki or soy – for a more exotic taste.
• Precook where needed: Some vegetables take much longer to cook on the grill than others. To make sure you don’t have to wait too long for your meal to be ready, try preboiling or searing some of the firmer vegetables – like carrots and potatoes – for around two to five minutes or until they are tender, before seasoning and putting them on the grill.
• Skewer the Smaller Pieces: While some vegetables can be cooked directly on the grill in their pre-sliced pieces, some of the smaller or rounder vegetables – such as cherry tomatoes, shallots, small potatoes or button mushrooms – might need to be skewered before cooking to make sure they don’t roll around on the grill or fall into the coals. A makeshift basket can also be created using tinfoil if you don’t have skewers.
•  Place, Watch and Flip: Now for the actual grilling part! Once you have all your vegetables prepared and ready for cooking and your barbeque coals have reached the right temperature, place the sliced pieces directly onto the grill. How long do vegetables take to cook on the grill? It varies depending on the vegetable so it’s important to stay close by and keep watch over your food to make sure it doesn’t burn or char. Flip them over once to make sure both sides get evenly cooked before removing them, letting them cool and then enjoying the fruits of your labour!

Prinos farm & deli offers a wide range of high-quality fresh vegetables that would be perfect on the grill, so pop down to your local Prinos store today and treat your friends and family to a delicious meal of grilled vegetables!