Saturday, May 16, 2009

Grilling Sides!

BBQ season is now upon us, and eating Al fresco is one of the highlights of summer for me.
Simple and inexpensive vegetables can become delicious sides for your main course with just a little tweaking. Try these for your next cook out, your guests will be very happy and so will you!

Balsamic Glazed Onions
I like to use a sweet onion, like a Vadalia, cut it into about 1/2 inch disk, make your own balsamic vinaigrette. Take 1 or 2 wooden skewers and pierce through the onion so all layers stay in tact while flipping on the grill. Generously brush your onions on both sides with the vinaigrette, season with salt and pepper.

Corn Cobs with Parmesan Garlic Butter Crust
Cook your corn in salted water, drain and cool down. In a bowl melt butter, add 1 crushed garlic clove, a little olive oil, salt and pepper. In another bowl add a hand full of panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Roll corn in butter, then breadcrumb mixture, and cook on a hot grill for about 10 minutes till golden brown.

Grilled Potato Disks
Cut your potatoes into round disks, I used red potatoes here but any kind would do. Toss them in olive oil, salt and pepper and add fresh snipped rosemary. Place on your grill and cook till fork tender, crusty and golden brown. You could even cheat a little and nuck them a little first in the microwave before you toss them in the oil till tender, and then throw them on the grill to crisp up.

I served these with your classic BBQ chicken, how can you go wrong with that!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Buon Appetito, and Happy grilling!

See the gate hubby built for the garden? Not bad huh?

54 comments:

Nina Timm said...

Smart hubby!!!
The frilled veggies are a good idea.....here in SA the grilling is all about the meat, but with tough times, this is definitely the answer!!!

LaDue & Crew said...

Oh wow, it all looks fabulous! I'm especially loving the onions! I can't wait to see the garden all finished!

Millie said...

Love this post! Summer is here! (or almost) I love the wrought iron on the gate too. I wish I had a garden, I don't know anything about growing vegetables.

Mimmi said...

Dear proud italian cook, it's always a pleasure to visit your blog!
Buon weekend and have fun!
Mik

Jen of A2eatwrite said...

Love, love, love simply grilling veggies in the summer. It's just the best. And yours look lovely!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I love the extra little tweaks you make that I'll be copying - holding together the onions with a skewer and the balsamic glaze - the parmesan topping on the corn - great ideas. looks like the garden man is up to good things. With all the rain we had, slugs have eaten away at my peas and peppers.

Aggie said...

Oh Marie, these sides look fantastic! I am in such the grilling mood, I can't wait to try these out!!

OhioMom said...

We will be firing up the grill next weekend, can't wait to cook seasonal produce (from my garden :) on the grill.

LOVE the gate .. go hubs!!

Rosabela said...

Love the side dishes and your hubby did a great job with the gate! :-)

ARLENE said...

Oh, these look so delicious! We grill year round, but summer is the time to expand our grilling to sides. When I shop this week, I'm picking up some corn and potatoes--already stocked up on Vidalias--and we're going to feast on sides. Yum.

Maryann said...

That corn looks so delicious! EVERTHING looks so awesome! That's it! I'm coming over! LOL
xox

Elra said...

WOW, everything here make me hungry. I love the look on that grilled potato. And the chicken look so delicious.

Dawn said...

OK you have such a nice hubby!
Balsamic grilled onions, I swear I could make a meal on just that alone.
I LOVE your food-porn worthy photos.

Knitting Mania said...

What a nice vintage touch to the gate! Love it!

Love the BBQ ideas, we love to grill onions & potatoes. In fact we have a huge BBQ next Saturday and those will be on the menue!!

Have a great weekend my friend.

Joan Nova said...

Not that I ever refuse the grilled meats, I get really excited over the sides and yours look delicious.

Michelle said...

Looks fantastic! My kind of food. Love the decorative iron piece on the gate!

Bunny said...

If this doesn't put you in the mood for grilling I don't know what would! Fantastic!

Neas Nuttiness said...

This ALL looks sooooooooo GOOD - I can hardly stand it!I'm gonna put fresh corn, onions, and parmesan on my grocery list. This is what we're gonna have for dinner on Monday night.
Thanks

Julie said...

Yum! Nothing tickles the tastebuds like grilled onions...those look great!

Lucy said...

Marie, these sides look so good, just loving the onions done up this way.

Weather in NY isn't cooperating just yet, as usual we'll go from downright cool to hot any day now, the patio is all set up & BBQ grill is ready to spring into action...

Culinary Cory said...

I love making grilled balsamic onions. They are such a great side with BBQ chicken. I can't wait for more veggies to come in season. Such a great way to add freshness to a cookout.

squawmama said...

I have been missing (out of commission) for a while and now I remember why I wanted to get back to reading your post...I love it! We grill a lot and this was a well appreciated post... Are there any other veggies you do? Thanks for such great ideas...

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Erin said...

Oh, you make me really want to grill! I got some fig balsamic from Old Town Oil last weekend, and it would be amazing with the grilled onions. I think I need to grill some time this week!

kitchen roach/galley roach said...

Great idea the tweaked onions and the corn! Will go on my "to grill" list for the barbecue!

kitchen roach/galley roach said...

How do you make your balsamico vinaigrette?

A Feast for the Eyes said...

Grilling is my favorite time of year to cook. LOVE the onion and balsamic inspiration. I will definitely include this the next time I fire up the Weber.
Nice to see you posting again.
Debby

The Italian Dish said...

Marie! Everything you cook looks so beautiful! That corn is incredible! Love your garden gate, too.

Cathy said...

Oh boy, I love grilled veggies and can't wait till corn season. Love those potatoes too.

Cathy said...

Yay, it's grilling season! I've grilled onions before, but never potatoes or corn. Wow! I can't wait to get started - this looks amazing and just screams summer!

casalba said...

So, I'm getting the picture that hubby is just as good in the garden as you are in the kitchen. (I can't get fresh corn here - it's grown as food for cattle, but never sold at the markets. Such a shame.)

emiglia said...

Is it bad that I think I could make a meal out of just the sides? Gorgeous pictures! I can't wait til I get to do some grilling of my own...

Psychgrad said...

This is honestly my favourite kind of meal. Makes me want to bbq tonight!

Mama said...

Hello Marie, I think these will be the guest of honor at our next BBQ,pretty gate, love the gate hubby made. Kathy.

The Short (dis)Order Cook said...

I love those onions. What I love most is the way you have so artfully laid your vegetables out. It's very pretty and so is your gate.

The Food Hunter said...

It all looks delicious. I do something similar with the corn and then roll it in balsamic.

katiez said...

Sweet corn!!!!
I want sweet corn! The french (and the Spanish) think it's pig food... I have to grow my own and I don't have my garden planted yet. Now I'm inspired!

Theresa said...

They all look so good. That corn is calling me though!!!

Marta said...

I love this idea for the onions and the corn! I've grilled onions before, but never glazed them. And I think this dressed up corn must be delightful! Thanks!

glamah16 said...

One day Im going to crash a fab summer BBQ by you. Just wait and see. Warning CS and I eat a lot.

Pam said...

Everything looks amazing but the onions have me drooling. Yum.

The gate is so cute - you are lucky to have such a handy husband.

Karen said...

Beautiful gate! Love all these grilled veggies... it seems so summery!

Gabi said...

Those are so mouthwatering! I am ready for mine now please- love the garden gate!
xo

Claudia said...

Oh do I ever love that gate! What a sweet husband-person! he sides are simply grand. 85 degrees here today - why heat the oven when you ahve prepared me a grand dish of sides? Sometimes I don't even want an entree.

Sara said...

Now that the weather is warm, we've been grilling every Sunday. I'm always looking for new recipes to make on the grill, can't wait to try these!

Laurie said...

Hi Marie! It's good to see you back! :) I always love bookmarking side dish recipes from your blog.. and these will be a wonderful addition to my Marie Collection! :)
Love the medallion scroll on your gate, very pretty!
Hey.. I'm gonna need wardrobe ideas for Early August Chicago weather! Pass over any help you can give me!! :) Hugs to you!

My Carolina Kitchen said...

I could eat those pictures. All great ideas on grilling. Love the rosemary with it on the platter. The corn is especially beautiful.
Sam

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Marie!
I will grill for the first time this weekend ..I can't wait! Corn on the cob is my favorite!

Jamie said...

Oh, you have me crying here as I can't get closer to these fabulous foods than my computer screen allows. This whole grilled meal looks to good to be true!

Deeba @Passionate About Baking said...

Love your sides (LOL, not yours, but the ones here)Marie, & would like to be standing by your side tucking into some. FAB!!

Bella Vita said...

Marie, These grilled veggies look incredible and I just cannot wait to try this on the grill (with my hubby's help). You take the best photos, I tell ya! I always enjoy visiting your superb blog!

Roz (aka bella)

joe@italyville said...

The weather has been perfect for this... Your sides are not taking a backseat to any meat! By the way, nice job hubby!

a woman who is said...

Loved your grilled sides. The gate hubby made is charming. But I don't know about spring rolls Italian style...not sure I can go there. Just keeping it real :)

I like my spring rolls with nuc mum.

garlic,lime juice, chili, sugar, fish sauce

Paula said...

Oh merciful heaven, I don't even have the words to describe how wonderful everything looks! The potatoes, the onions, the corn, the chicken ... I think I need a moment to regain my composure! Love the gate! I'll take one, too, please!

Anonymous said...

Gate and Garden look very nice but he should have used cedar because lumber will last about 2 years. Love the site