More Thrilling Grilling

Exciting, healthful recipes

To me, nothing’s tastier, easier, or more fun than food cooked on the grill —it’s one of the very best things about summer. Those appealing char marks and light smokiness get me every time. But while I love even the most basic burgers, chicken breast and zucchini slices cooked that way, there are so many more thrilling possibilities which are just as simple to make. Here are some of my favorite out-of-the-ordinary recipes for the grill. Enjoy!

These recipes relate directly to the topic I’m covering in next week’s paid newsletter: Simple Tips for Healthier, Tastier Grilling. If you are not yet a paid subscriber, I hope you’ll consider upgrading. Thank you for your support of this work!

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Grilled Napa Cabbage Wedges with Carrot-Ginger Dressing

Photo by Quentin Bacon, food styling by Suzanne Lenzer, and prop styling by Maeve Sheridan

One simple way to add an element of surprise to a cookout is to grill up some Romaine lettuce or Napa cabbage. Here Napa cabbage wedges are cooked until lightly charred and softened outside, but still crisp, then served with a mouthwatering carrot-ginger dressing— my version of the one that adorns crisp green salads in Japanese restaurants. I am only slightly exaggerating when I say I could practically drink it. The dish makes an idea side for just about any grilled protein.

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Grilled Thai Beef Salad

Photo by Christopher Hirscheimer

If you like full-frontal flavor, you are going to love this recipe. The steak is marinated in a mixture that covers every angle—spicy, sweet, tangy, and salty—then it is grilled to caramelized perfection, sliced thin, and tossed with tender lettuce and fresh herbs. The robust marinade flavors are used in the dressing to give the salad a one-two punch. The result is so powerfully mouthwatering, it is sure to knock you out. Marinating meats not only brings lots of flavor to the plate, it also makes grilling considerably healthier, which I’ll explain in next week’s article.

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Grilled Corn With Miso Honey Butter

Photo by Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post

Here’s an easy and healthful way to elevate corn on the cob, Japanese street food style. Slathered with a coating of subtle, savory miso butter (made better for you by blending it with some healthful oil), the corn becomes beautifully charred when grilled, and the miso butter melts lusciously between the kernels for an irresistible summer treat.

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