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Grilled Veggie Platter – Everyone Wants On The Plate!

New year! New You! Let’s put something new on that plate. We’re all feeling the snugness from our clothing. No regrets on the wonderful events with friends and family but it might be time to exercise that grill in a different way.

Our grilled veggie platter offers a variety of choices for varying tastes and pairings with wines that are a welcome change from the same old of last year.

From down to earth, reliable potatoes to grilled sweet potatoes and grilled beets, enjoy a rainbow of healthy choices and break out that grill tonight!

Grilled Twin Potatoes

Potatoes are the original vegetable on the platter! They are the vegetable that bring all other vegetables together and you will find them at every event. Every vegetable starts out wanting to be a potato but soon realize they all have their own flare and flavour that enhance the platter and make it unique. We call our grilled twin potatoes twins because they like getting all dressed up and we dress them the same! This comfort food recipe is prepared with cheddar cheese, cream cheese and bacon bits. Nothing goes better with potatoes than bacon!

What you Need

4 large baking potatoes. “Twin” them but cutting them in half lengthwise so you have 2 sets. 1/4 Cup of cream cheese 1/2 cup medium shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup of milk Crispy cooked bacon crumbled

What You Do

Prick the potatoes with a fork or insert small 1/4 inch cuts into each potato and microwave on high for approximately 4 minutes. Turn them over and microwave another 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Slice the top off of each potato (about 1/4 of the potato lengthwise) and scoop out the centres into a medium bowl leaving the remaining potato with enough of the flesh to keep it about 1/8th of an inch thick.

Mash the potato that has been scooped out with the cream cheese, the milk and cheddar and bacon and mix it well.

Scoop the mixture back into the potato shells and wrap each one in foil.

Place on the grill and grill for about 45 minutes in the foil.

Tip

You can use herb and garlic cream cheese to add extra zing or substitute medium cheddar with old cheddar or a cheddar mozzarellla mix to add extra flavour. Experiment with apple smoked or maple smoked bacon instead of regular bacon. You can refrigerate the potatoes uncooked for the grill for up to 24 hours. Potatoes are patient! grilled-veggies1

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

If you’re not the sweet potato casserole type you may want to try them on the grill during the colder weather! The sweat potato is a meaty vegetable that offers nutrition and flavour. It’s like its sister potatoes but with a little more spice to it. More of the landlord to the platter of vegetables – the sweet potato will oversee the flavours of the twin potatoes and add its own special taste to the palate. One of the oldest vegetables known to mankind it can be used as a side dish or part of an all vegetable meal.

What you Need

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes about an inch in size 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon ground cumin or cinnamon 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste

What You Do

Heat your grill for medium-high heat, Divide your sweet potato cubes in half. Take a rectangular piece of aluminium foil and place the sweet potatoes in the middle. Top with about half of the butter and sprinkle about half of the brown sugar, cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper over. Add salt and pepper and fold the corners of the foil to seal it up and form a pouch individual pouches. Grill for a total of 20-30 minutes but ensure that you turn the pouches every 10 minutes or so. Sweet potatoes like to tan evenly.

Tip

You can partially microwave the sweet potatoes to cut down on your cooking time. You can add thinly sliced onion for added flavour and also add fresh herbs such as fresh thyme into the packet to add extra punch. Sweet potatoes like to party. Once you have them on your plate, you’ll keep coming back for more! grilled-veggies2

Grilled Beets

Yes! You can bring out the earthy sweetness of beets by putting them on the grill!

Beets are native to the Mediterranean but are like the travel agent of vegetables making it one of the most popular vegetables over the centuries feeding people and livestock across the continents.

Grilled beets are a delicious and welcome addition to the veggie platter and don’t require a lot of prep, pomp or circumstance.

What You Need

Beets Olive Oil Salt

What You Do

Peel and slice the beets. Brush them with olive oil. Beets love a little bit of italian flavour! Sprinkle them lightly with salt and place them on the grill. Close the grill and cook just 8-10 minutes. Turn them and continue cooking for another 10 minutes. Beets should be tender and have grill marks. Serve them hot, warm or room temperature. Beets are the easy going part of the veggie platter!

Tip

You can substitute olive oil with a flavour infused oil such as toasted walnut oil or hazelnut oil to bring out the most sweetness in the beets. Beets pair beautifully with wine and because they are a root vegetable, paring them with a Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc such as California’s J-Lohr will keep them happy and coming back to your table. grilled-veggies3

Grilled Turnip

Turnips are the strong vegetable on the platter. They contain high amounts of dietary fibre, calcium and vitamin K. Grown in temperate climates worldwide they only need to be seasoned lightly and adding them to salad or soup completes the meal and makes the veggie platter an ideal source or go to group for all your entertaining needs.

What You Need

1 pound turnips, peeled and cut into 1/2 to 2/4 inch slices 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil fresh ground, black pepper 2-3 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon lemon juice

What You Do

Combine the cooking oil, black pepper, minced garlic and lemon juice in bowl. Toss the turnips with the mixture using tongs to coat them in the seasonings. Cook turnip slices on a preheated medium to high heat grill for about 3 minutes per side or until they are soft. Place them on a platter in a single layer to avoid squishing the slices. Turnips like their space and while they are good in a group setting, they are very used to being enjoyed on their own. Turnips are the stable part of the veggie platter, dependable and adored by everyone.

Tip

Don’t forget the oil, it helps crisp the exterior of the turnips Because turnips take on a lightly charred exterior when grilled and seasoned starchy interior, pairing them with a white wine brings out the best in them. grilled-veggies4

Grilled Brussel Sprouts

Although they have a reputation for not being the sweetest vegetable, treat them properly and brussels sprouts will show you their complex flavour and give you a subtle crunch. Leave ’em plain, dress them up, whatever you choose the grilled brussels sprout is just happy to be on the platter! We truly think brussels sprouts are awesome!

What You Need

1 dozen brussels sprouts (cut in half if they are large) 1 lemon or 1 lime to use for Juice 2-3 tablespoons of Melted Butter Fresh ground pepper Fresh garlic (1-2 cloves) Salt

What You Do

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat You can lightly oil the grate to keep anything from sticking. Brush the brussels sprouts with butter and season with garlic pepper and salt Cook the sprouts just until grill marks appear, about 10 minutes, that should be enough time to make them nice and tender. Squeeze a bit of lime or lemon juice over them just before removing them from the gill and adding to the vegetable platter!

Tip

You can shake them in olive oil rather than using butter You can use seasoned salt or add smokey bacon bits cooked from fresh bacon to dress up the brussels sprouts!

grilled-veggies5

So how would you assemble an awesome veggie platter? Mix it up. Grilled seasonal vegetables make for coloruful and festive sides or full meals for indoor or outdoor gatherings and events. Create your own, you might be surprised what you can bring to the party!

Look for our suggestions for great vegetable medleys to accompany your next gathering!