Summertime has arrived and you know what that means… time to break out the grill! We don’t know about you but we’ve been waiting all year for this. And don’t be fooled, following a plant-based diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun. Get your BBQ tools ready because Mother Raw is bringing plants to the BBQ and sharing 5 fruits & veggies you didn’t know you could grill - plus delish plant-based grill recipes for all of them!
Avocado
This fresh summer stunner is known for being cool and creamy, so it may never have crossed your mind to heat it up. Throwing your avocado on the grill gives it a smoky flavor, makes it extra creamy, and helps ripen it faster (you’re welcome for that hot tip).
Grilling avocado is as easy as it is delicious. Just cut it in half, remove the pit, brush it with extra virgin olive oil, and grill it cut-side down for about 3 minutes until there are grill marks and a bit of char.
Then remove the peel, chop it up, and throw it on top of your favorite salad topped with some Mother Raw Greek Dressing! Grilled avo will also take our Southwest Salad to the next level, or you can use them as edible bowls with your fave fillings. You can also try grilling the avo in our Citrus & Avocado Salad for a whole new way to experience vegetables on the grill! Sonja and Alex Overhiser of A Couple Cooks say "Grilled avocado is the trick you didn’t know you needed! Top them with pico de gallo as a side, or use for smoky guacamole." They also share other uses like stuffing tacos, adding it to spice up a roasted tomato salsa and turning it into a grilled sandwich!
Squash
Think squash is just a fall favorite? Think again! Enjoying this delicious root veg shouldn’t be restricted to the colder months of the year. You can grill any type of squash for a delicious twist on a summer BBQ feast.
First, cut the squash in half lengthwise and clean out any seeds and strings. Brush the cut side with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and the herbs of your choice, then place them on the grill until tender.
We love grilled squash mixed in with grains like rice, quinoa, or farro and our Mother Raw California Fig Dressing as a gluten free BBQ dish. Check out our Maple Fig Roasted Butternut Squash, but try it grilled! Trust us, you won’t want to wait for fall to enjoy this fab flavor combo.
Watermelon
Hear us out on this one - we promise you won’t be disappointed if you give this summer staple a chance on the BBQ. Grilling enhances the flavors and makes watermelon even more of a treat as a snack, in a savory dish, or as dessert.
Slice the watermelon into 1-inch slices, leaving the rind intact. Brush with olive oil and then place on the BBQ for a few minutes until you see those beautiful grill marks.
For the ultimate summer salad, mix together grilled watermelon with fresh mint, lime juice, olive oil, and salt & pepper to taste. It’ll really take your selection of BBQ side dishes up a notch. If you need a place to start, try our Fresh Grilled Watermelon Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing - you won’t regret it.
Beets
Next time you’re throwing your go-to veggies on the BBQ, add beets into the mix. Grilling beets unlocks an awesome smoky-sweet flavor combination you’ll wish you’d tried sooner.
Heat your grill to medium-hot while you peel and slice your beets. Brush them with olive oil, place them on the grill, and sprinkle them with salt. Cook them for 8-10 minutes per side until tender with grill marks.
Beets will definitely spruce up your summer grilling routine. Drizzle them with Mother Raw’s new Balsamic Dressing and enjoy them as a side, in a salad, or on a sandwich or veggie burger. We love this recipe for Roasted Beets with Dukkah & Balsamic - just grill the beets instead of roasting them!
Pineapple
We’re finishing off this list with an amazing vegan dessert. Grilling caramelizes the sugars in pineapple making this a sweet treat for any summer grilling event.
Slice your pineapple into rounds and grill it for about 1 minute per side - that’s it! Seriously, we couldn’t make this any easier.
Serve the grilled pineapple with your favorite vegan ice cream! We recommend trying it with a plant-based coconut ice cream for those pina colada vacay vibes you’ve been dreaming about. If you’re not quite ready for dessert, try grilled pineapple in a Grilled Pineapple Salad or on a veggie burger. Aloha, summer!
We hope you’ve got some fresh inspo to bring more plants to the grill this summer with these RAWesome plants you didn’t know are great on the grill. We love to see what yummy plant- based dishes you are grilling up so make sure to tag us in your plant-based BBQ adventures on Instagram - we want to see those grill marks!
Photo credit: Sonja and Alex Overhiser, A Couple Cooks.