Enjoy this article by Sara Clement, RD, LDN with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, who offers some great tips for tips for grilling vegetables and fruit. You'll also find a wonderful recipe for Grilled Peach & Blueberry Cobbler from the Food Bank.
Grilling Season is Here
By Sara Clement, RD, LDN
Summer is here and grilling season has begun! While putting those burgers, brats, or hot dogs on the grill, add some fruits and vegetables. Grilling fruits and vegetables is a great way to add flavor without adding a lot of fat, and use local in-season produce. Here are a few easy steps for grilling produce.
Use skewers or grill basket for small pieces: Zucchini, button mushrooms, peaches, and tomatoes are all great grilled but will fall through the grates. If you do not have a grill basket, fold aluminum foil into the shape of a rectangle with short sides, works great to keep those items from falling into the grill. Make sure to soak wooden skewers prior to using so they do not catch on fire. Remember, the larger the cut of the item the longer the cook time.
Oil lightly: Tossing vegetables in small amount of oil will help keep seasoning on vegetables, reduce sticking on grill, and retain moisture.
Proper cook times and temperature: Fruits and vegetables have different cook times depending on the density, size, and temperature of grill. Asparagus is cooked best by trimming ends, lightly oiling and seasoning, placing on medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally. Large mushrooms can be stemmed, brushed lightly with oil and seasoning, placed on grill at medium-high for 3 minutes on each side. Bell peppers should be halved with seeds removed, rubbed with oil and seasoned, placed on medium-high grill for approximately 5 minutes.
Grilled vegetables pair great with these flavor combos: salt and pepper, garlic and thyme, lime and chili, and soy and garlic. Grilled fruits can be a great dessert when sprinkled with small amounts of cinnamon and vanilla extract when removed from grill. When grilled both meat and fruits/vegetables make sure to keep separate for food safety and flavor.
Following is a wonderful looking recipe for Grilled Peach & Blueberry Cobbler provided by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.
About the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina: The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for people at risk of hunger in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina for 40 years. The Food Bank serves a network of more than 900 partner agencies such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and programs for children and adults through warehouses in Durham, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, the Sandhills (Southern Pines), and Wilmington.
The Food Bank not only feeds those who are hungry; but also works to benefit community health. That’s why, in 2016, the Food Bank launched a
Community Health & Engagement Department. With two nutritionists on staff, the Food Bank shares recipes, healthy tips, and other resources for partner agencies and neighbors in need. The on-site teaching kitchen in Raleigh offers cooking demonstrations and nutrition education to highlight easy, quick, and low-cost recipes using healthful foods like whole grains, fresh produce, low fat dairy, and lean meats.
Monthly Articles from the Food Bank
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina shares regular articles about nutrition and health education so we know what to look for when we head to the grocery store and plan our healthy meals.
