It’s cookout season, and if you’re anything like the Kellers, you are also on the hunt for some great new side dish recipes that can be prepared on the grill. Well, good news, fellow grillers! I have some side dish ideas that are both delicious and super simple to add to your summertime line-up:
Grilled Hearts of Romaine. Try this easy recipe in place of a traditional salad at your next cookout. Just cut the hearts of romaine in half vertically, rub romaine lightly with olive oil to coat, then salt and pepper as well. Then place on the grill and cook until lettuce is slightly wilted and charred, about 4-5 minutes.
Grilled Okra With Fire-Roasted Tomatoes. Get ready for a ridiculously easy and super delicious side dish. Kevin and I were inspired to try this recipe when we sampled a version at Bourbon, a great new restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina, while visiting Susan and Marty over Easter weekend. Simply toss whole, raw okra in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place directly on the grill, cooking for roughly 5-7 minutes. Meanwhile, empty a can of fire-roasted tomatoes into a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high until hot (about 2-3 minutes). Top grilled okra with warm tomatoes and serve. You could make this recipe slightly more complicated (but arguably fresher) by using ripe tomatoes and roasting them, but trust me when I say that the canned version is pretty great as-is.
Grilled Corn with Basil and Butter. This is one of our favorite ways to enjoy fresh, sweet summertime corn. Buy some ears of unshucked corn and carefully peel back the husk, but don’t remove from the corn completely (pull the husks down so most of the ear is exposed — you do want to remove the silks). Rub some butter on the corn, then add roughly chopped fresh basil on top of the butter. Fold the husks back up and tie it closed (you can use a string or an extra piece of husk to tie). Grill for 15-20 minutes, rotating periodically.
What are some of your tastiest (and simplest) grilled side recipes?
