It’s almost summer and that means it’s the season of sunshine, barbeques and finding ways to beat the heat! Grilling is an excellent method of cooking that helps to keep the home cool and save energy. When we think of barbequing, we often think of grilling the main protein of our meal, whether it is a meat or veggie burger. Did you know that you can round out your meal and avoid dirtying extra dishes by grilling your sides as well? Below are recipes and tips for grilling veggies accompanied by recipes for fresh fruit frozen popsicles to help you stay cool this summer.
Grilled Veggie Kabobs
Kabobs are an excellent way to incorporate a variety of veggies into your meal while expanding the surface area for a quicker and more flavorful cook. Try alternating red onions, zucchini, bell peppers (each cut into 1 inch squares/cubes) and whole button mushrooms for a colorful blend.
Jazz them up and provide a nonstick coating by tossing your kabobs in a marinade. For no dishes or mess, mix your marinade in a gallon zip lock bag. After assembling your veggies on the skewer to make the kabob, simple place them into the bag of the marinade, zip up the bag and gently roll around to coat. Use tongs to remove them from the bag and allow excess oil to drip off before placing them on the grill. Grill on medium heat, turning every 4-5 minutes until all sides have grill marks and veggies are tender.
Marinade recipes are easy to modify and versatile. The recipe options are endless, and a marinade can often be assembled with items you already have on hand. All you need is a healthy fat, acid and herbs/spices. Try this simple yet flavorful marinade for your veggies.
Veggie Herb Marinade
- 3/4 cup avocado oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar or fresh lemon
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic; if you do not have minced garlic, you may use a dash of garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of dried Italian seasoning herbs
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Popsicles:
What you’ll need:
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A blender
- Popsicle mold
- Popsicle sticks
Raspberry Lemonade Popsicles
- 2 cup fresh Raspberries
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup monk fruit extract
- 1.5 cup water
Coconut Mango Mojito Popsicles
- 3 cups mango slices
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
- 1 ½ cups coconut water
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
Triple Berry Creamsicles
- 2 cups strawberries
- 2 cups raspberries
- 2 cups blackberries
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ⅔ cup oikos triple zero vanilla Greek yogurt
Follow directions below for your popsicle recipe of choice!
- Blend ingredients together until smooth
- Divide into popsicle mold
- Insert popsicle sticks
- Freeze for 6+ hours
- Enjoy!
