Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (2024)

Ready to up your food game at home, by the beach, or on the grill? We can help with that: Well+Good teamed up withToday Foodto not just give you advice, but to show you how it's done. (Because recipes are nice, but step-by-step videos are even better.) Each week, we'll be unveiling new videos highlighting a super-easy, delish recipe that's sure to become a go-to all year long.

We kicked off the summer with a game changing kale destemming trick (no knife needed), and last week was all about keeping skin glowing (and not burnt to a crisp). This week we’re heating things up—literally. You’ve mastered braising, blending, and even massaging your greens. And now that the weather is practically begging for the grill to be fired up, it’s time to add grilling greens to your repertoire.

Just like steak or portobello mushrooms, your greens taste even better when they’re grilled.

Yes, just like steak or portobello mushrooms, your greens taste even better when they’re grilled."It's a lighter, more flavor-immediate alternative," explains Jason Weiner, executive chef atAlmond, whose Manhattanand Bridgehampton locations highlightfresh, locally sourced ingredients (the summer menu will feature grilled kale raab, the leafy green'sflowery tops that are usually overlooked). Weiner recommends pairing grilled greens with Mediterranean flavors, and is a big fan of throwing it on the Weber with (sustainably sourced) fish to make a meal out of it.

In this week’s featured video (which you can watch above), we reveal the master grilling techniques for cabbage, radicchio, and romaine—and avocado for good measure. You can throw ‘em all on the grill at the same time, or step up your game with six different recipes below. —WillaTellekson-Flash and Emily Laurence

Ready to turn up the heat? Check out thesesix recipes for cookingyour greens on the grill all summer long.

Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (1)

1.Grilled Kale with Ricotta and Tomatoes

Swapping in grilled greens for their raw equivalent will totally transform your go-to salad. "This salad is so vibrant and colorful—the essence of ‘salad’ in my mind," says The Tart TartbloggerLinda Xiao. "The kale is lightly brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with salt, and grilled, so it almost feels like you’re eating kale chips. Plump, juicy tomatoes and ricotta round out the taste, so you get crisp, creamy, and colorful with every bite." No grill? No problem—Xiaoused her toaster oven and got the same result!

Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (2)

2.Grilled Cabbage Wedges with an Herby Vinaigrette

Virtually everyoneloves a good roasted veggie. But in warmer months, just the thought of turning on the oven can make you sweat. And that's where grilling comes in. With Food + Love blogger Sherrie Castellano's recipe is simple yet delish: "Simply coat the cabbage and hot peppers in a thin layer of olive oil, sprinkle them with sea salt and pepper, and grill on all sides until lightly charred. Summer eating at its finest."

Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (3)

3.Grilled Bok Choy and Turnip Rice Bowl

You can get this nutritious green stir-fried with garlic at your favorite Chinese restaurant in winter, but warmer months are a perfect time to throw it on the grill. Coated in soy sesame sauce, bok choy is the star of thissuperfood-packed rice bowl. (Bonus points for the very 'grammable grill marks.)

Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (4)

4.Grilled Radicchio with Fig Balsamic Syrup

Not a big fan of thestereotypically bitter chicory? This recipe might make a convert out of you. "The bitterness of radicchio gets tempered a bit once grilled or cooked,"A Beautiful Plate's Laura explains. This recipe—which comes simply grilled and topped with homemade balsamic syrup, almonds, and parmigiano-reggiano cheese—practically screams summer dinner party-worthy. Time tostart mixing the co*cktails....

Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (5)

5.Grilled Cabbage Wedges with Spicy Lime Dressing

Grilling greenandpurple cabbage makes for a meal that is both colorful and nutritious. The vitamin C-rich cruciferous veg doesn't crumble when sliced in wedges and charred on the grill. (Consider that a serious bonus for any BBQnewbies out there with visions of their dinner falling between the grates and literally going up in flames.)

Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (6)

6.Grilled Romaine Hearts with Figs, Pear, and Manchego

Romaine leaves may make for a great salad base, but thehearts make for a stand-alone meal. Whip this one up by grilling the figs alongside the romaine hearts, drizzling both with balsamic. This will prove once and for all thatthere's no such thing as #sadsummerbbqsalad.

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Tags: Healthy Cooking, Healthy Meal Ideas

Grilled greens recipes for summer | Well+Good (2024)

FAQs

What greens can you grill? ›

Grilling adds a smokey, nutty flavor to any leafy green. Plus, the method is easier than it sounds. Adding grilled greens can pump up the flavor in any salad. My favorite greens to grill are kale, romaine and radicchio, but you can try this method with just about any green that you like.

Can you grill leafy greens? ›

For kale or Swiss chard, grill the whole leaf—rib and all. For endive, bok choy, Romaine, escarole, or butter lettuce, halve the vegetable before coating it with oil (and whatever else) and grilling. For bigger vegetables, like radicchio or cabbage, quarter them.

How do you grill vegetables on a gas grill? ›

If you are using a gas grill, simply light all the burners to wait until the grill comes up to the cooking temperature you want. Then turn off one row of burners. Placing your vegetables above the unlit burners, rather than the lit ones, will cook them using indirect heat.

What are the best tasting greens to cook? ›

On your next trip to the market, look out for these seven tasty leafy greens!
  • Chard. Incredibly flexible in the kitchen, chard is a leafy green that can be enjoyed raw in salads, or cooked in everything from omelets, soups and stews. ...
  • Mustard Greens. ...
  • Watercress. ...
  • Beet Greens. ...
  • Collard Greens. ...
  • Escarole.

What greens do well in heat? ›

Heat Tolerant Greens for Summer
  • Swiss Chard. Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris var. ...
  • Malabar Spinach. ...
  • New Zealand Spinach. ...
  • Garden Purslane. ...
  • Vegetable Amaranth. ...
  • Orach.

How do you make leafy greens taste better? ›

For sweet, you might go for a balsamic glaze. For sour, you could use lemon juice. Salty is, well, salt, but you could also try anchovies or a bit of bacon, says Devonshire. And parmesan is an umami king for greens, he says.

Do you soak greens before cooking? ›

Let the greens soak for 20-30 minutes, giving them a good scrub midway. The vinegar and salt will help loosen & remove any dirt, grit and bring out any bugs hiding in the greens. Drain the water and soak again in plain water (1-2 times) if the water is dirty and gritty.

Should you salt veggies before grilling? ›

By this, he means seasoning aggressively and early. In the same way you'd add copious amounts of salt and pepper to a steak 30 minutes before grilling, you should do the same with your veggies. The salt will bead on the veggies, then ultimately permeate the surface, flavoring the entire vegetable.

What is the best oil for grilling vegetables? ›

Olive Oil. Olive oil, whether regular, virgin, or extra virgin, is probably the most used grilling oil in the world. It's made from olives, which are high in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. It has a smoke point of 390-468°F.

How do you grill vegetables without getting soggy? ›

Marinate the vegetables in oil, vinegar or lemon juice before grilling, which can help to keep them from drying out. Grill the vegetables over direct heat for a short amount of time, just until they are slightly charred and tender. Avoid overcrowding the grill and give your vegetables enough space to cook properly.

How long should vegetables be on the grill? ›

Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over, about 8 to 10 minutes for the bell peppers; 7 minutes for the yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms; 4 minutes for the asparagus and green onions.

Can you grill vegetables directly on grill? ›

Method 1: directly on the grill.

Use this method for larger vegetables like corn, bell pepper, thick sliced zucchini & yellow squash, onion and portobello mushrooms. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, about 375-400 degrees F.

Which green is hearty enough to grill? ›

This is not the moment for delicate green leaf lettuce from your garden or anything that could reasonably be described as “tender.” Instead, look for more robust options that are still connected by the root, like romaine, radicchio, treviso, or endive, or a sturdy, flat leaf like kale or chard.

What are the most popular vegetables to grill? ›

  1. Eggplant. The western world is lacking in appreciation for this versatile, delicious vegetable. ...
  2. Beets. Fat, sweet, and full of flavor, beets are just perfect for the grill. ...
  3. Potatoes. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to cooking potatoes. ...
  4. Sweet Potatoes. ...
  5. Zucchini. ...
  6. Mushrooms. ...
  7. Cauliflower. ...
  8. Onions.

What vegetables taste best on the grill? ›

Zucchini, bell pepper, onions, asparagus, and mushrooms become sweet and savory when cooked on the grill. With just a brushing of olive oil and sprinkling of salt and pepper, this cooking method is simple and lets the vegetables natural goodness shine through.

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