Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Recipes Worthy of Your BBQ Grill


Just because I’m sure your summer grilling is in full swing, I thought that sharing some of my favorite grilled recipes as of late would be entirely appropriate. Whatever type of bbq grill you use, whether it’s an infrared gas grill, a standard gas model, or a charcoal grill, you can get the job done right, and eat some pretty delicious foods!
            In our home, we try to eat healthy most of the time. Moderation is key, and we feel it gives us the freedom to eat as we please. So, here are my current picks for delicious summer eating grilled: sausage and pineapple skewers, grilled peppers stuffed with feta and garden-fresh basil, and chicken satay.

Stuffed Peppers:

Bell Peppers
Feta Cheese
Fresh Basil Leaves
Garlic Powder
Salt
Peppper

This isn’t a typical stuffed pepper dish, but it still rocks. You can use any color variation, and feel free to get as creative as you like. Simply clean your peppers, and slice them in halves. Coat with vegetable oil, or whatever oil suits your fancy for grilling. Grill them on the cooking grates, depending on your grill’s specs till they are tender, about 3 to 5 minutes, with the inside faced downwards. A little charring is amazing here. Once they cool a bit, stuff the feta and basil, with the seasonings sprinkled on top. Not only are these easy and fast, but they look great too.

Sausage and Pineapple Skewers:

Sausage
Pineapple
A really good bbq sauce; I love Stubb’s.

These make an excellent party dish. It’s almost silly to even call this a recipe, as it is so simple, but it really is delicious. The presentation is fabulous, and they taste amazing. I use pork sausage, but feel free to use any kind you like. Cut the sausage and pineapple into 1.5” chunks, and skewer them. Lay them on a large plate and pour some bbq sauce on them so they are nicely coated. When your grill is ready, get them onto the heat until you have nice grill marks. Onto your serving platter they go, and are ready to be eaten!

You can buy fresh pineapple already cut in chunks at your grocery, in the produce department, which help cut down time and energy. If you use frozen sausage, it will slice much nicer if it’s about 50% defrosted, rather than totally defrosted. I’ve used spicy Italian pork sausage, as well as pork sausage with parmesan laced through it, and both have had delightful results.


Chicken Satay

Chicken Breast
½ Small Onion, Chopped
2 Spring Onions
¼ Cup Chopped Peanuts
¼ Cup Coconut Milk
¼ Cup Soy Sauce
3 Garlic Cloves, Chopped

Though not a properly authentic recipe, this satay is my take on the dish, and mimics the flavors well. This recipe also makes an excellent party food. Both satisfying as well as a finger food being on the skewer, it does double duty. It is best served with a delicious peanut sauce (recipe follows). Cut the chicken into 1.5” pieces. Finely chop the garlic and onions. Pour the soy sauce and coconut milk over the chicken, and add everything else. Let this marinade work its magic for 25 minutes. Afterwards, skewer the meat and they will be prepared for grilling. They will be done when they have apparent grill marks, and caramelization, about 10 minutes.

Peanut Sauce

1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
½ Cup Soy Sauce
½ Cup Coconut Milk
3 Tbsp Raw Sugar
2 Inch Piece of Ginger Root, Grated
2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
2 Spring Onions, Minced
Juice of Half a Lime

Put all the ingredients into a food processor or blender, and puree until smooth and creamy. If you would like it thinner, add more coconut milk and soy sauce, to taste. With the chicken, this makes for an incredible appetizer!

These three simple, grill-happy recipes are my favorites right now. They’re healthy, satisfying, and really tasty. Enjoy!

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