50 Grilled Fruit and Vegetable Recipes That Prove There's More to a Barbecue Than Just Meat

April 10, 2009
Photo: Jan Smith
Paired with grilled meats, or combined on a meatless menu, these vegetarian-friendly summer grilling recipes can please any crowd.
Start Slideshow

1 of 50

Grilled Watermelon Pizza

Photo: Greg Dupree
View Recipe: Grilled Watermelon Pizza

Get creative at your next cookout with this handheld take on watermelon salad. This all-star melon creates the perfect base for the bold flavors that are highlighted in the toppings.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 50

Grilled Corn and Bell Pepper Salad

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Grilled Corn and Bell Pepper Salad

Get the most out of your grill space by adding a little char to every element of this quick, fresh corn salad. Add all the vegetables at once; remove each as it finishes cooking.

3 of 50

Grilled Caesar Salad with Sourdough Breadcrumbs

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Grilled Caesar Salad With Sourdough Breadcrumbs

Grilling these bright leaves makes for a toasty char you wouldn't expect from a fresh plate of greens. Greek yogurt and sourdough bread lend a natural dose of probiotics to our riff on Caesar salad. Alliums such as garlic offer prebiotic fuel to help the good bugs thrive. Keep the sourdough croutons whole if you don’t want to dirty the food processor, or you can lightly crush them in a ziplock bag.

Advertisement

4 of 50

Grilled Romaine with Feta and Nuoc Cham

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Grilled Romaine with Feta and Nuoc Cham

Chef Bill Kim uses fresh minced chiles in his bigger batch of nuoc cham in Korean BBQ. This recipe calls for crushed red pepper for convenience, since it's only 1/8 teaspoon in our adaptation.

5 of 50

Grilled Corn Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Corn Salsa

Don’t be afraid to get some good char all over the corn; that’s where a lot of the flavor comes from. We like the look of red jalapeños here, but you can also use green jalapeños (which taste the same) if they’re easier to find. Try the citrus-spiked salsa as a dip with tortilla chips or a topper for blackened fish, steak, or chicken; or tuck some into fish or shrimp tacos, combine it with black beans for a quesadilla filling, stuff a hefty spoonful into an omelet or frittata, or toss a generous amount with quinoa for a hearty main-dish salad.

6 of 50

Grilled Eggplant Planks With Miso Aioli

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Eggplant Planks With Miso Aioli

Grilling eggplant allows its flavor to really shine, but our four simple toppings take this speedy side to the next level. Top it with Miso Aioli, Sherry Vinaigrette, Creole Salsa, or Creamy Lemon-Garlic Dressing. Be sure to choose smaller eggplants; they'll be easier to slice and easier to handle on the grill.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 50

Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Fresh Cherry Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Fresh Cherry Salsa

The meaty texture of fresh cherries holds up in a salsa that goes well with the charred sweet potatoes.

8 of 50

Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata

Purple cauliflower is becoming more widely available at farmers markets; white cauliflower would also be delicious here.

9 of 50

Grill-Steamed Corn with Cilantro and Chile Flakes

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grill-Steamed Corn with Cilantro and Chile Flakes

Aleppo is a fruity Middle Eastern pepper with moderate heat. Sub 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 50

Hot-Sweet Grilled Watermelon

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Hot-Sweet Grilled Watermelon

Texas chef Tim Love likes to use guajillo chile powder here, which provides moderate heat. Cayenne or chipotle powder would also work.

11 of 50

Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
View Recipe: Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Sweet and smoky grilled pineapple combines with peppers and onions for an brightly colored salsa that deserves a spot at your next cookout.

12 of 50

Grilled Bok Choy "Wedge" with Blue Cheese-Buttermilk Dressing

Photo: Greg Dupree
View Recipe: Grilled Bok Choy "Wedge" with Blue Cheese-Buttermilk Dressing

Bok choy adds a funky edge to our riff on a classic steak house salad, with far deeper flavor than lettuce.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 50

Spicy Grilled Mango with Chiles and Crema

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
View Recipe: Spicy Grilled Mango with Chiles and Crema

Grilled mango is a charred sweet treat, and here we top the gently charred slices with chiles, cilantro, and tangy Mexican crema. This quick dish is a study in balance: Sweet, spicy, sour, and salty flavors come together ­harmoniously and for maximum effect. Look for Mexican crema in the supermarket dairy section or in ethnic markets, or substitute crème fraîche.

14 of 50

Grilled Zucchini Caprese Stacks

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Zucchini Caprese Stacks

What a showcase for garden treasures! Rainbow layers of veggies benefit from extra basil tucked in between for more flavor. Grilling brings out earthy tones that are balanced out by the tangy-sweet balsamic glaze.

15 of 50

Grilled Sweet Potato and Bell Pepper Toss

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Paige Hicks
View Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato and Bell Pepper Toss

Cut the red bell peppers from top to bottom into four panels; then simply discard the core. The wide pepper pieces will take on more char and be easier to maneuver on the grill.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 50

Andrew Zimmern's Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad

Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad

You can assemble this salad the day before you plan to serve it, but toss in dressing just before serving to keep Zimmern's salad as crisp as he intended.

17 of 50

Grilled Green Onions with Lemon and Parmesan

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Green Onions with Lemon and Parmesan

Bright green onions get a facelift when they hit the grill. A simple lemony dressing takes them to next-level freshness. Serve with grilled zucchini planks.

18 of 50

Grilled Tomato, Onion, and Olive Salad

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Grilled Tomato, Onion, and Olive Salad

Giving the tomato and red onion a bit of char on the grill transforms this simple salad into a fantastic summer side. The tomatoes become extra juicy as they soften and blister on the grill. The red onions become tender, sweet, and slightly smoky.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 50

Grilled Bean and Cheese Stuffed Poblanos

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipes: Grilled Bean and Cheese Stuffed Poblanos

Grilling the peppers over blazing flames not only saves countless time in the kitchen, but it also results in a blackened, sweet-charred skin. Round out this recipe with creamy-crunchy-tangy Spicy Jicama Slaw on the side. 

20 of 50

Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

This is a riff on elote, Mexican street corn. We love how sweet dill plays on the richly caramelized corn and briny cheese.

21 of 50

Grilled Zucchini

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Breadcrumbs

These zucchini sides couldn't be easier. Simply mix your favorite topping, half the zucchini, and grill. Our Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Breadcrumbs uses fresh breadcrumbs from a whole-wheat baguette, while the Grilled Zucchini with Herb Butter boasts fresh chives, basil, and lemon juice. For spicy flavor try our Grilled Zucchini with Chopped Tomato-Basil Salsa, or stay cool with Sweet and Sour Grilled Zucchini.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 50

Grilled Sweet Potato and Napa Cabbage Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato and Napa Cabbage Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

To save time, you could also cook the pumpkin seeds in a skillet directly on the grill.

23 of 50

Grilled Fig Toast

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Grilled Fig Toast

Who knew toast could be so delicious? Brushed with butter, dipped in sugar, and grilled, the bread (a nice enriched challah) becomes almost brûléed.

24 of 50

Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Okra

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Okra

A sweet-tangy balsamic glaze makes this summertime appetizer irresistible. Using two skewers for the wrapped okra makes it easier to flip on the grill.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 50

Grilled Baby Eggplants with Green Onion Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Baby Eggplants with Green Onion Salsa

If you can't find Indian eggplants, as we used here, go for small, slender Japanese eggplants instead.

26 of 50

Marinated Grilled Apples with Mint

Cooking Light
View Recipe: Marinated Grilled Apples with Mint

Serve these highly flavored apple rings as a side with pork or chicken. (One serving size for this recipe is three apple slices, but you can easily double the number of slices for even larger, guilt-free portions of this healthy dish.) We liked this recipe with Granny Smiths. For a dessert version, use Pink Lady apples, and serve with low-fat ice cream.

27 of 50

Grilled Asparagus Rafts

Cooking Light
View Recipe: Asparagus Rafts

This recipe is a nice twist on traditional grilled asparagus spears. Skewering groups of asparagus spears together makes them easier to flip on the grill. Sesame seeds lend additional crunch and a sprinkling of color to the dark green spears. The secret for cooking asparagus is simple: don’t overcook it. The slender shoots should turn out crisp and bright in color.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 50

Grilled Stone Fruit Antipasto

Cooking Light
View Recipe: Grilled Stone Fruit Antipasto

Black pepper and vanilla heighten the sweetness of the stone fruit. Make sure to clean the cooking grate thoroughly so that no residue from previously grilled foods ruins the flavor of the fruit.

29 of 50

Tandoori Tofu and Vegetable Kebabs

Cooking Light
View Recipe: Tandoori Tofu and Vegetable Kebabs

Golden raisins in the rice pilaf are a sweet balance to the intense spices in the tandoori marinade. Both tofu’s subtle flavor and tender texture merge well with a multitude of Western and Asian seasonings. The variety of flavors in this dish makes it a healthy, instant classic.

30 of 50

Grilled Eggplant with Caramelized Onion and Fennel

Cooking Light
View Recipe: Grilled Eggplant with Caramelized Onion and Fennel

To prepare this appetizer indoors, broil the eggplant rounds until browned, and continue the recipe as instructed. White balsamic vinegar offers the sweetness of regular balsamic but won’t discolor the salad. You can use regular balsamic vinegar if white isn’t available.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 50

Lemony Grilled Potato Salad

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Lemony Grilled Potato Salad

Grilling the vegetables brings unexpected smokiness to a familiar picnic staple.

32 of 50

Pinto, Black, and Red Bean Salad with Grilled Corn and Avocado

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Pinto, Black, and Red Bean Salad with Grilled Corn and Avocado

"When I was growing up in Mexico City, my parents would throw wonderful ­summer barbecues," says Chef Medina (Toloache, Yerba Buena, Coppelia, New York City). "We would grill corn on the cob and mix in leftover beans from the weekend and make a delicious, simple corn and bean salad." This Latin-accented three-bean and corn salad is studded with guacamole components: jalapeño, cilantro, white onion, lime, and avocado.

33 of 50

Grilled Caesar Salad

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Grilled Caesar Salad

Grilling lettuce gives it a hint of smokiness and lends the leaves crisp-tender contrast. Toasted garlic bread stands in for croutons.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 50

Grilled Caponata Salad with Grilled Flatbreads

Photo: Kenji Toma
View Recipe: Grilled Caponata Salad with Grilled Flatbreads

Look for caper berries near the olives in the supermarket; they should be next to the capers, but they're much bigger and have a stem. In a pinch, substitute about a tablespoon of chopped capers. Japanese eggplants have thinner skins than typical globe eggplants, so you can leave the peel on. The light purple color is pretty, too.

35 of 50