Photo: Williams-Sonoma; Steel Grill Fry Pan
Now that you know about the association between grilled meat and cancer, let’s talk about plant-based ways to get your grill on for better health. Grilling vegetables is a great option for upping your intake of healthy antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Grilling brings out the natural sweetness in vegetables such as red peppers, carrots and onions. Marinate vegetables with olive oil, citrus juice or balsamic vinegar and seasonings to enhance the flavor even more.
Five ways to grill produce this summer
- If you want to watch and learn how to prep and grill vegetables on the stovetop, check out this Food Network video:
- Go Mediterranean and make a grilled vegetable salad with pearl couscous, chickpeas and feta cheese, tossed in a dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, fresh mint, salt and pepper.
- Make grilled vegetable kabobs and serve atop your favorite whole grain. Williams-Sonoma sells stainless steel sliding skewers that make it easy to remove grilled foods. Then try this veggie kabob recipe from Whole Foods Market.
- Want to cook veggies outside on the grill, but tired of watching them fall through the grate? Grilling delicate vegetables is a breeze when you use a grilling basket like this one from Cuisinart. Get even more creative with this special quesadilla grill basket to grill your tortillas filled with veggies.
- After dinner, take advantage of the fired-up grill and skewer some fresh pineapple and bananas. Brush lightly with simple syrup, if desired. Cook the fruit skewers on the grill for a few minutes on each side until they start to caramelize and get grill marks. Serve in a bowl with Luna & Larry’s Organic Coconut Bliss non-dairy, soy- and gluten-free frozen dessert in Naked Coconut. This company makes products with high-quality ingredients and values a “lifestyle of sustainability.”