Whether you’re grilling at your apartment with private patio, or in your backyard breakaway from burgers and hot dogs this summer. With the right tools, a little bit of technique and maybe even a little sense of adventure you can throw pretty much anything on a grill (gas or charcoal) and throw together a gourmet-inspired meal.
1. Pizza - Jump on the high-temperature pizza craze without having to find a fast-casual establishment in your neighborhood. Most larger grocery stores or megamarts have pre-made pizza dough, or you can even stop by your favorite local pizza place and ask if they’ll sell you a couple of rounds. If you have one, preheat your pizza stone while you are preheating the grill for a more even doneness on the bottom, but go without if you want those awesome grill marks on the bottom of the crust. Choose to heat dough first, let it cook for 4 or 5 minutes. flip and then load up with toppings or cook your fully loaded pizza all at once. This depends on your toppings and your preferred level of doneness. For some topping inspiration, you can never go wrong with a Classic Margherita Pizza.
2. Tofu - Perhaps best known as a fad diet trend of the 1980’s tofu has bad reputation as a gross and misunderstood meat substitute. Besides being low in calories and vegetarian-friendly, tofu is a great source of protein, contains all eight amino acids and is an excellent source of iron and calcium. The secret to tasty and satisfying grilled tofu is in the kind you buy and the techniques you use. Instead of softer or silken varieties, make sure you buy “firm” or “extra firm”. Since tofu is basically tasteless, start thinking about your marinade. You can marinade tofu for as little as 15 minutes or as long as 8 hours. You can go savory or sweet – tofu is like a sponge and will soak up all that flavor. Pair Grilled Tofu with a Mediterranean Chopped Salad for a quick and tasty summer dinner.
3. Quesadillas - It’s easy and expected to throw a tortilla on a skillet, add cheese and some shredded chicken and fold, but it’s also easy and unexpected to prepare a quesadilla on a grill. Wow guests at your next gathering with quesadillas straight from the grill as an appetizer or elevate leftovers with a nice char and hint of smokiness for a quick weeknight meal for one. The trick to grilled quesadillas is preparing your fillings ahead of time and working quickly. Choose to go spicy, vegetarian or non-vegetarian or even gluten-free by swapping flour tortillas for corn tortillas. Try out Grilled Steak Quesadillas for a classic approach to this Tex-Mex favorite.
4. Fruit - Most people think grilling is limited to savory applications. Sweeten up your meals by experimenting with grilled fruits. Firmer fruits are better suited for the grill than softer fruits: watermelon, pineapple, peaches and apples. Cut your fruit into larger chunks, spears, or wedges so they’re easier to handle, and don’t fall through the grates of the grill. You can leave fruit as is and let the natural sugars caramelize or try your hand at a Spicy Maple Cumin Glaze.
5. Meatballs - What's the difference between burgers and meatballs? In basic composition, not much, but the flavor possibilities, portability and reduced cooking time make meatballs an easy and unexpected addition to your grilling rotation. Grilling not only gives meatballs a delicious umami-filled crust but also adds a subtle smoky taste. You can choose from a variety of meats and flavor combinations, whether you're going Italian-style with Pecorino and Parmesan cheeses or using ground turkey with a side of grilled pineapple relish to make a more tropical tasting meal. The meatballs can either be a main dish, accompaniment to pasta or eaten with a salad.