This Independence Day, a grill is, as always, the perfect way to celebrate. But are you stumped when choosing the best-grilled foods out there? Don’t worry, we have a great list for you, all you have to do is narrow it down! Or grill’em all, if you feel like it. We know we do!
Don’t you just love grilling? It’s one of my favorite summer activities and definitely my favorite summer cooking activity. And grilling can be a true way of life. And a great way to celebrate this 4th of July, as you probably already know!
I like to go to the countryside with my friend a few times every year and there hasn’t been a trip so far that hasn’t climaxed in a great grilling session. We start off by taking some pieces of wood, cutting them up in smaller pieces and burning a small bonfire on the grill.
Then I love to start the fire. Excuse my poetic mood but sparking the flames that will lead us back to delicious, juicy, mouthwatering food, warms my heart. We have an idea of what the best-grilled foods are, for us, but we never stop experimenting and adding to the list. You will find some of my favorites below! And don’t forget the barbecue sauce!
7 best-grilled foods for this 4th of July
1. Ribs
Yeah, these babies are always excellent. So first make a nice, dry rub for them, before putting them on the grill. Use some paprika or some cayenne pepper to spice things up a little, if you like that. Or by all means, use some Asian seasonings to take things international! Then grill away. Place the ribs bone side down on the grill and cook until they are golden brown and cooked through.
2. Halloumi
This is one of my favorite things to grill. Halloumi comes from Cyprus and is a semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese made from a mixture of goat’s and sheep’s milk, and sometimes also cow’s milk. And it’s absolutely ideal for the grill because it retains its shape under the pressure of coal heat. How to do it? Add some grease to it. Brush some olive oil on both sides of the cheese and then keep it on the grill until it starts to form those great grill marks. When you serve it, you can drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle some oregano over it.
3. Corn
Mmmm, corn on the cobb is one of the best-grilled foods in my experience. How about you try and cook it a bit differently? Don’t remove the husk and let the heat from the fire steam the corn on the inside until it’s tender. Then remove the husks and let the corn brown a little in the heat. And once you have it on the plate, why not add a little bit of butter or some grated low-moisture mozzarella, to make it an even richer experience?
4. Portobello mushrooms
Those giant, meaty mushrooms are just begging to be grilled over hot coals. Season them properly at first. And then try this really cool idea. Use the grilled mushrooms as buns for a burger! Grill the mushrooms and the patties (use whatever type of meat you like) at the same time and the assembly of the burgers will be even simpler. Read some tips here about how to make the most delicious burgers!
5. Eggplant
If you are a vegetarian (even if you’re not), then you really can’t miss out on grilling eggplant. It turns out delicious with such little effort. You only have to peel it if the skin is a bit tougher. Otherwise slice it as thick as you like it, season it thoroughly, spread a bit of butter on it and grill it on both sides for about 10 minutes. Flip the slices every now and then, and you can add some more butter because the eggplant is spongy in texture and will absorb it quickly.
6. Peppers
A ripe red pepper goes through an amazing transformation once you put it on the grill. It changes from crunchy to soft and if you dip the pieces in some olive oil after the grilling has ended, then the flavor just becomes deeper. Add a few pieces of garlic to that and there’s a great side dish for you, ready to go. Or you can use the pieces in a salad of your choosing and play with flavors. The choice is yours.
7. Asparagus
You know how delicious and simple to make asparagus is. It has a fine texture and a strong yet delicate taste, and the flavor is absolutely unique. So why not try to grill it this time? The smokiness will deepen the flavor of this veggie and make it even tastier. And yeah, one last tip for you: grate some parmesan over it and taste it coming alive even more!
If you want to learn more about grilling, read about these grilling myths that have turned to ash.
