Today I’m going to show you how to grill zucchini and yellow squash. If you are a gardener like I am, you probably get tons of zucchini and yellow squash every year, but if not they are easily found at the grocery store or farmer’s market. These veggies are perfect for grill because they have a high water content that keeps them moist, and they also soak up marinades well, and take on the smoky flavors from the grill.
I usually grill zucchini and yellow squash together because I really like the mix of the green and yellow colors when I serve it. You can also grill yellow zucchini if you prefer too. The nice thing about them is that they are the same shape as your regular green zucchini, whereas yellow squash is usually bulbous at one end.
The great thing about grilling zucchini and yellow squash is that it is quick and easy. Also you can eat it hot or at room temperature. It makes a great addition to a salad; you just chop it up into manageable bit-sized pieces and toss it into your salad.
So, let’s get on to grilling up the zucchini and yellow squash. You are going to need 2 or 3 medium sized zucchini, and 2 or 3 medium sized yellow squash. Get something that is about 5 to 8 inches long. You don’t want some of those monstrous ones because they have too many seed in comparison to flesh.
After you clean them up, slice them lengthwise into ¼ inch slices. This is the best way to grill them because it creates more surface area so the grill without getting soggy. Place the slices into a baking dish. I like to season mine, so I’ll drizzle a bit of olive oil over them and sprinkle on salt, black pepper, minced garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes.
Now, you can season or marinade these zucchini and yellow squash pieces anyway you prefer. Just experiment to get a flavor you like. Make sure you turn the slices in the oil to get them evenly coated. You only need to marinate them for about 15 minutes.
If you are going to grill a bunch of zucchini and yellow squash I highly recommend you use a grilling basket. These make grilling the sliced veggies so much easier because you won’t have to flip the slices one by one. Here is the one I use.
Set up your gas or charcoal grill for direct grilling over high heat. If you want you can add some smoke as well. You will need maybe a cup of chips or a chuck or two of wood. I like oak for these, but you can use other smoking wood as well. If you want to smoke with your gas grill, you can get yourself one of these.
Once the grill is ready place the slices on the grate. Grill until nicely browned on both of the sides, this will take approximately 4 to 6 minutes per side. Once they are done, transfer them to a platter and drizzle on a bit more olive oil. Serve it at once.
This is how to grill zucchini and yellow squash that turns out perfectly. Experiment with different seasoning and marinades to make some unique flavors. Remember you don’t have to eat them all right away either; they are great chopped into a salad.
image courtesy of cogdogblog/flickr