Apr 30, 2019

Out-of-the-box grilling ideas

By Stacey Stein

By the time the Victoria Day long weekend rolls around, summer is in the air – the days are longer, kids are outside riding their bikes, and patios are filled with people enjoying their meals al fresco.

The warmer weather also makes this a popular time to host an outdoor barbecue, another favourite summer pastime. Burgers and dogs may be the obvious go-to, but this long weekend, why not wow your guests with unexpected dishes that stray from standard barbecue fare?

Read on for ideas to help you plan a unique long weekend barbecue that guests will be raving about all summer.

Awesome apps

The possibilities for interesting apps that incorporate grilled veggies are endless. Here are a few options that are sure to be a hit:

Potato salad gets a makeover in this version that uses grilled mini potatoes and has a light, herby flavour. Before grilling the potatoes, boil them first, run under cold water, and then toss with some melted Gay Lea Spreadables butter.

Add a DIY element to your barbecue by including a crostini bar. Registered dietitian Shannon Crocker recommends using this grilled crostini recipe and mixing things up by putting out different toppings – try grilled veggies, sautéed mushrooms and avocado slices. Guests will have fun assembling their own creations. Tip: grill the crostini ahead of time and then warm it on the grill once your guests arrive.

Create a grilled veggie platter filled with in-season spring fare like asparagus, zucchini, peppers and radishes. Try serving the grilled veggies with a crowd-pleasing dip, like Nordica Smooth roasted red pepper.

Mouth-watering mains

Replace chunks of meat with chunks of cheese to create healthful, innovative barbecued dishes. Halloumi works well on the grill (be sure to cut it about ½ inch thick) – it’s the star ingredient in these dishes:

This fattoush salad pairs grilled halloumi with a variety of crunchy vegetables. A lemony dressing ties it all together.

This nutrient-rich grilled veggie salad is loaded with a variety of grilled vegetables along with the grilled halloumi. Quinoa adds a kick of protein.

Who needs beef sliders? These grilled halloumi sliders are a great meat alternative, and the herbs and tzatziki lend some Mediterranean flair.

You can skip the meat in these other veggie-heavy mains:

For this roasted red pepper flatbread recipe, grill the naan bread (rather than baking it in the oven). Feel free to mix up the veggie toppings.

Lightly grill the zucchini on the barbecue in this mushroom-stuffed zucchini recipe. Toss some chickpeas or black beans into the stuffing mixture for a protein boost.

For meat lovers, you can try a twist on the conventional Caesar salad. Brush some Romaine lettuce with canola oil and grill on a lower heat (be sure to keep the core so the lettuce holds together on the barbecue). Serve with Caesar dressing, grated parmesan and croutons, then top it off with a grilled beef or chicken kabob.

Divine desserts

Desserts and grilling might not seem like a natural combination, but you can make some truly inventive – and delicious – desserts on the barbecue while impressing guests with your ingenuity. Here are some ideas:

Keep things simple and healthy with grilled fruit kabobs, paired with a sweet sour cream honey dip. Pear, apple and pineapple work well – so do peaches, plums and nectarines, which will soon be in season.

Replace the peaches with in-season pears in this recipe, which marries grilled fruit with pan-seared halloumi cheese. Top it all off with a champagne syrup for a dessert that’s sure to impress (feel free to skip the arugula).

Cake on the grill? Why not? A dense pound cake works perfectly (buy or make your own) – place thick slices on the barbecue, flip them over until you see grill marks, then top it off with some Nordica Smooth Blueberry Acai and berries (either fresh or frozen – both work well).

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