Grilled asparagus is a healthy, delicious side dish that goes great with any cookout. Grilling asparagus brings out a sweeter flavor that you just will not get by cooking on the stove. The only problem with grilling this vegetable is that they tend to fall through the grate on the grill. Well, I’ve got the solution on how to grill asparagus without losing the spears through the grill grates.

How to Grill Asparagus

The first step is preparing the asparagus. After you have washed it thoroughly grab a asparagus spear and bend the stalk over with your other hand. The asparagus will break where the woody portion ends and the tender section begins. You can throw out the woody base.

Now there are several different ways to make grilled asparagus without it falling through the grate. One is using skewers, the other is using aluminum foil, and the other is using a vegetable grill basket. I definitely prefer using skewers or toothpicks when grilling asparagus because I like for them to be directly on the grate getting that great grill flavor.

The use of bamboo skewers is a lot easier than toothpicks because they are larger and longer, but both will still work. You will want to soak your skewers in water for around an hour before using them. This is to prevent them from catching fire when grilling. Place 4 or 5 asparagus spears side by side and skewer them just below the tips and also an inch or so from the bottom. It will basically look like an asparagus raft.

You can use either a charcoal grill or a gas grill when you grill asparagus, it really doesn’t matter. I am a charcoal grill guy so I tend to use that more often. Either way you need to set up your grill for high, direct heat. Make sure you preheat those grills to high before you place the asparagus on it.

Once your grill is all set and preheated, place the asparagus directly over the fire. They will not take long to cook, so don’t walk away. You will want to grill them for 2 to 4 minutes per side. With the asparagus spears skewered into a raft it is really easy to turn them with a pair of tongs. That’s it, 2 to 4 minutes per side and you are done.

Now if you want to know how to grill asparagus using aluminum foil or a vegetable grill basket it is really simple too. Prep your grill and your asparagus the same way as above minus the skewers of course. If you are using foil tear a sheet large enough for a single layer of asparagus. You want a single lay so it cooks easier. Place your asparagus in the center and fold each end of the foil over to seal the asparagus inside. Place this pouch directly over the flame as before. Using this method it will take around 4 to 6 minutes per side. Make sure to flip it half way through. Once it’s done open the pouch to check for your desired amount of doneness. Some people prefer it softer, while others like it crisper.

Using a vegetable grill basket is almost the same as cooking the asparagus right over the flame, but you don’t need the skewers. If you have a grill basket place the prepared vegetable in a single layer in the basket on a grill preheat to high. Grill the asparagus for about 3 to 5 minutes per side, turning with a pair of tongs.

Now that you know how to grill asparagus how about we get into some marinades and asparagus recipes?

Grilled Asparagus Recipes

There is no sense in cooking it up without adding a bit for flavor to it, that is way makes asparagus marinades so great. The marinades are really simple and add some really unique flavors to your asparagus. Two of the most popular recipes are sesame grill asparagus and Italian grilled asparagus.

Sesame Asparagus

What you will need is about 1 pound of asparagus prepared as explained above, 2 Tbsp sesame oil, 2 Tbsp sesame seeds, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 minced garlic clove, kosher salt and black pepper.

In a small bowl mix together the sesame oil, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Brush this mixture on both sides of your prepared asparagus. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Place the asparagus on the grill and cook as explained above. As they cook sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Italian Asparagus

This recipe is basically the same as the sesame recipe but we will substitute olive oil for the sesame oil and lemon juice for the soy sauce.

What you will need is about 1 pound of asparagus prepared as explained above, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, kosher salt and black pepper.

In a small bowl mix together the olive oil, lemon juice and minced garlic. Brush this mixture on both sides of your prepared asparagus. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Place the asparagus on the grill and cook as explained above. As the asparagus cooks you can optionally sprinkle it with a bit of fresh chopped herbs or some grated Parmesan cheese.

Play with different marinades to find that flavor that is unique to you, there are many different spices and marinades you could try.

It is really simple to cook grilled asparagus, and it makes such a wonderful side dish to any cookout. Now that you know how to grill asparagus make sure you try making this delicious, healthy grilled dish.

If you wanted to try grilling your asparagus using a grill basket, they are not a very big investment and they come in really handy for grilling all sorts of vegetable. They are great for vegetable of all shapes and sizes. The vegetable grill basket I prefer is this one >> Vegetable Grill Basket

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Smoking food is no longer reserved for those of us with charcoal grills, or dedicated smokers. Just because you only have a gas grill doesn’t mean you can’t smoke with it. I’ll show you how to easily smoke with a gas grill.

As a big time griller, I have all sorts of different grills for different purposes, but I know not everyone does. You have a gas grill, but you’d love to smoke some foods; guess what, it is no problem.

It is actually very easy to smoke using a gas grill. If you’re lucky you might have a grill that has a slide out smoker box. Some grill models come with this smoker drawer that you pull out and fill with wood chips. Just follow the manufacturer’s directions on your specific model and you’ll be smoking with your gas grill in no time.

However, if you’re like me, your gas grill doesn’t have a smoker box. It doesn’t matter; you still can smoke with it. What you need to do is make a smoker pouch.

• Soak your favorite wood chips for an hour or so.
• Using a sheet Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil, place a handful or two of soaked wood chips in the center.
• Fold all sides up to make the pouch. You’ll want to double-fold at the edges to create a better seal.
• Using a knife, poke several holes on the top side of the pouch.
• Place the pouch under the grate directly over one of the burners.
• Heat the grill on high until you see smoke, then adjust the temperature to the level you want to cook at.

Pretty simple huh? If you can fold aluminum foil into a pouch you can smoke on your gas grill. Now, if you are smoking large cuts of meat or even a turkey you’ll want to make a bigger smoker pouch. Just add several handfuls of soaked chips to a larger sheet of foil. Another option is to use wood chunks. With wood chunks you can just place them under the grate directly over a burner just as you wood with the smoker pouch.

Now you have no excuse not to try smoking, since now smoking on a gas grill can easily be done.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making a pouch or if you want to smoke often with your gas grill then a Cast Iron Smoker Box would be perfect for you. They are simple to use and easy to clean, but best of all they will give your food a great smokey flavor. You can check out a really good one here >> Cast Iron Smoker Box

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Grilling fish is a seemingly difficult task, with many horror stories of fish falling apart, and also sticking to the grate.  It really is not that hard to grill fish with success.  I wrote The 5 Essentials for Grilling Perfect Fish to tackle some of the problems holding would-be successful fish grillers back. Using the tips in that article will help you to grill some amazing fish.

Image by VirtualErn

However, we are going to drill down and focus on grilling fish on the skin side.  You’ve picked up some nice salmon fillets with the skin on from your local fish market; guess what, that’s the hard part.  That’s right, picking a good fish is more difficult than grilling it.  Let me show you how easy it is.

1.  Direct medium-high heat on a covered grill. Set up you charcoal or gas grill to produce a medium-high heat level.  Make sure your grate is clean, and rub a bit of olive or canola oil on it. The cleanliness and oil will help prevent the fish from sticking.

2.  Brush the skin side of the fish fillet with oil. A bit of olive or canola oil brushed on the skin side with help to prevent sticking.  A bit of melted butter will work too.

3.  Place the fish fillet skin side down over the heat source and cover. Grilling fish directly over the heat source will crisp up the skin and also help with sticking.  Grilling the fish covered will cooking it evenly top through bottom.

4.  Check on the fish periodically, but don’t ever flip it. Grilling fish this way requires no flipping, but you do need to check on it.  Check to see that the skin is crisping, but not burning.  You can do this by lifting the corner of the fish fillet with a spatula.  If the skin is starting to burn, fold up a piece of aluminum foil and slide it under the fish fillet.

5.  The fish will be done in 10 – 15 minutes. It doesn’t take long to grill fish on the skin.

See, I told you it’s easy.  Get out there and try it.  I personally love to grill salmon fillets this way.  It is so quick, easy and delicious.  And just think of the glazes you could also add.  There are a lot of options for experimenting with grilled fish.

Another great way to grill fish is to use a fish grilling basket. Fish grilling baskets are easy to use and make for quick and easy clean-up. One of the best that I found available is Steven Raichlen’s Stainless Flexi Basket. What is great about this basket is not only does it work great for grilling fish, you can also use it for grill other meats and vegetables too. Check it out, it is a great addition to any grill-masters arsenal >> Fish Grilling Basket

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Roasted peppers are probably my favorite grilled vegetable.  Grilled peppers turn out soft and sweet, with a slightly smoky character.  I love them as is, with a bit of olive oil, but they can also be added to other dishes to provide a sweet, smoky character.

Grilling peppers can be done on either a gas or charcoal grill.  I’m a big fan of charcoal grills, so that is what I generally use to roast my peppers.

1. Set your grill up for direct grilling.  This means the peppers will be roasted right over the heat source.  If you are using a charcoal grill create an even layer of hot coals.
2. The peppers will be grilled over high heat.  We are talking about temperatures at 450°F or slightly higher.  If you are using a charcoal grill it will take about 5 – 10 minutes for the coals to reach this temperature.  The coals should be bright orange at this point.
3. Place the peppers on the grate and grill for approximately 5 minutes on each side.  Each side should produce a nice char.
4. After they have finished grilling place the peppers into a dish and cover with plastic wrap.  Let the grilled peppers sit for approximately 20 minutes.  This steams the peppers which helps loosen the skin from the flesh.
5. After the roasted peppers have finished steaming, pull the skin off the peppers using a knife or your fingers.  Don’t worry if you can’t get every last piece of skin off the peppers.  A bit of charred skin will add to the flavor.
6. Finally cut off the stem ends, slice the peppers open and scrape out the seeds.

You can grill pretty much any type of peppers you want, from your various colors of bell peppers to your different varieties of chili peppers.

Don’t feel that you have to char the skin black and remove them either.  You can grill the peppers until the skin has reached a slight golden brown color on each side.  At this point you can eat the peppers skin and all.  The “skin on” method will produce flavors completely different from grilled peppers with the skin removed.  Experiment with both types in your dishes.

If you have ever wanted to grill up a bunch of jalapeno peppers, your are going to want to check out the King Kooker 36 Hole Jalapeno Rack. This thing is really cool. I love jalapenos, and actually grow them in my garden, so I always have a bunch on hand. This rack is perfect for getting that smokey jalapeno flavor, plus it comes with a corer, which makes preparing them a snap.

It is stainless steel, and easy to clean. It works perfectly regardless if you want to roast them on your grill, smoker, or even your oven. If you like roasted jalapenos as much as I do, you will want to check it out >> King Kooker 36 Hole Jalapeno Rack

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Break away from the traditional oven roasted turkey and try something new this year.  How about smoking a turkey?  You can produce a wonderfully tender and flavorful turkey, by bringing it outdoors and adding a bit of smoke.  The additional benefit besides the flavorful turkey is now you’ve freed up your oven to create all those excellent side dishes.

Smoking a Turkey

You can smoke a turkey on virtually any type of grill, even a gas grill.  Our focus here however will be smoking your turkey using indirect heat on a charcoal grill or using a smoker.

Whether using a charcoal grill or a smoker I suggest that you use a drip pan with a bit of water underneath your turkey.  A cheap disposable aluminum pan will work great for this.  Not only does a drip pan help prevent flare-ups, it helps provide a bit of moisture to the turkey while smoking.

If you are using a charcoal grill, build the charcoal up around the drip pan.  Due to the close proximity to the heat source, smoking on a charcoal grill will take less time than using a smoker.  A 12 to 14 pound turkey will take around 3 to 4 hours to smoke on a charcoal grill at a medium heat level.

If you are using a smoker build the heat source according to the directions for your smoker.  Build your heat to a level of 225°F to 250°F.  I like to aim for right around 235°F when I smoke a turkey.  At the level of heat it will take about 30 minutes per pound for the turkey to cook.  Expect to be smoking for 6 to 7 hours for a 12 pound turkey using a smoker.  Due to the length of time it takes to smoke a turkey I suggest that you stick to a small to medium sized bird.

If you want to use your favorite rub, or brine your turkey prior to smoking feel free.  However, a bit of oil rubbed on the turkey with some salt and pepper will also make for an excellent smoked turkey.

Place your turkey on the grill or smoker breast side up directly over the drip pan.  If the smoker you use has the heat source toward to one side of the turkey, you will want to rotate the turkey every couple of hours to insure even cooking.

You’ve got the heat going and the turkey on the grate, now let’s add a bit of smoke to your turkey.  There are several woods that you can use to smoke your turkey, but I prefer to use apple, cherry, or hickory.  I’ve also used a combination of those woods.  As far as mesquite goes, I find it to be too overpowering for turkey, but if you want to try it feel free. Check out some of these wood chips for smoking your turkey >> Wood Chips

If you are using wood chips you’ll want to soak them in water for an hour or so.  Soaking the chips will slow the rate of burn so they will smolder and produce smoke.  If you are using large chunks, there is no need to soak them.  Add a couple hands full of chips or a couple chunks to get the smoke rolling.  Shut the cover and let it smoke.  Keep the lid closed as much as possible to retain the heat and smoke.  You will want to check every hour or so if additional wood chips or chunks are needed.

If you are smoking your turkey on a charcoal grill at a medium level of heat your turkey will finish quicker.  You will want to check the temperature of the turkey several times while smoking using a meat thermometer.  Regardless of whether you are using a charcoal grill or a smoker, you are looking for a temperature of 170°F to 180°F before taking the turkey off.

Once the turkey has finished pull it off the grill or smoker and let it rest.  You should let your turkey rest for about 15 minutes covered with aluminum foil.  As it rests the juices will redistribute throughout the bird creating a juicy, tender smoked turkey.

Smoking a turkey is pretty easy, and it opens up the kitchen for other tasks.  Feel free to experiment a bit too.  You can brine your turkey, inject it with different seasonings, rub it with your favorite spices; the options are endless.  Another great idea is adding wine, beer, or juices to the drip pan for moisture.  Half the fun in smoking a turkey is experimenting.

I usually like to go low and slow when smoking a turkey, so I usually use a smoker. Smokers are great and not just for turkey, you can use them to smoke a variety of different foods. I love my smoker, and would give it up for the world, are a must have for any serious grill-master. There are a lot of different types, you can find one that is perfect for you here >> Smokers

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