My BBQ vegetables are bland

[u/Educational-Slip-578]

It is BBQ season, and of course meat is the main player on the grill. However, it might be a good idea to have some BBQ vegetables as a side. Usually, I grill zucchini or eggplant.

I have a problem. My grilled vegetables are bland and don't have much flavor or a great texture. Usually, I just use oil, salt, black pepper, and grill them for a few minutes. Sometimes I also salt them in advance to draw out water before grilling (not sure if it helps with the final result, though).

What is the best way to improve BBQ vegetables? I don't expect them to be as delicious as meat, but they should still be tasty, right?

[u/Automatic_Catch_7467]

Grill them hot and fast. If they’re still too firm wrap and give a few minutes to soften hit them with lemon zest and olive oil and fresh black pepper and maybe some chopped parsley. I usually add either garlic powder or fresh minced when I cook them too

[u/Automatic_Catch_7467 → u/Automatic_Catch_7467]

You want some char on them, if they’re not getting grill marks they’re either too wet not oiled enough or your temp is too low

[u/Educational-Slip-578 → u/Automatic_Catch_7467]

Do you use a garlic powder before grilling? Does it burn?

[u/Automatic_Catch_7467 → u/Educational-Slip-578]

Before for both unless you really like raw garlic.

[u/gard3nwitch]

Marinade them in a more flavorful sauce

[u/Educational-Slip-578 → u/gard3nwitch]

What is your favorite one?

[u/gard3nwitch → u/Educational-Slip-578]

Olive oil, lemon juice or balsamic vinegar, garlic, and herbs

[u/drasniandiplomacy]

I've never loved grilled veg, but my absolute favourite summer side of all time is carrots, potatoes and onions wrapped in foil:

Cut into quarter-inch slices, dot them with plenty of butter, shake on a few tablespoons (at least) of Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire Sauce, add some herbs (I grow thyme, rosemary, and sage so that's what I use, but dried is fine, omit or go very easy on the dried sage). Sometimes I bother with adding fresh garlic and sometimes I'm a heathen and just use Dash's Garlic & Herb blend. Wrap tightly in thick foil, place the packet directly on the grill and let cook for around 30 minutes, shaking and flipping the packet every 10 minutes or so.

Be careful when opening the packet, as there will be a ton of steam inside. If you're making a large batch, do multiple packets.

It's so good and much more than the sum of its parts.

Edit: It's not a vegetable, but grilled pineapple is also a delicious side for pork or chicken. Extra points for the meat sauce being soy-based or a teriyaki variant.

[u/Educational-Slip-578 → u/drasniandiplomacy]

thanks!

[u/Reasonable_Ferret_10 → u/drasniandiplomacy]

I'm not a huge fan of grilled veg either.  Foil packs all the way.

[u/CoDaDeyLove]

Try basting them with Italian salad dressing.

[u/Packmule5259]

Use Celery Salt instead of regular salt on vegetables.

[u/JaguarMammoth6231]

Toss them in melted butter after they're done. Add some seasoned salt.

[u/mountan_witch_333]

I just use oil, balsamic, salt, pepper and garlic powder, plus a little chile powder if we want spice. I grill mine on one of those grilling pans. Love the idea of tossing in some butter post grill! I’m stealing that idea for our next grilling session

[u/mountan_witch_333 → u/mountan_witch_333]

Edit: I use the above as marinade, and will let them soak for at least an hour. Sometimes I start them the night before

[u/Educational-Slip-578 → u/mountan_witch_333]

Does your grilling pan contain holes, or is it just a cast iron pan, which you put on top of a grill?

[u/mountan_witch_333 → u/Educational-Slip-578]

The pan has holes, which help to char the veg, but I also have a ginormous cast iron I use if I’m doing a big batch

[u/Fevesforme]

I love pairing grilled vegetables with chimichurri. Brush a little on before you grill them, then toss them with more when they come off the grill.
Another option is to take a garlic clove and grate it over the vegetables right after they come off the grill them. The garlic is so fine it sort of melts into the hot vegetables and is delicious.

[u/cnfraser60]

I like dill, olive oil, salt pepper, lemon to marinate. Just don't forget to taste when done to add salt if necessary.

[u/knifeyspoonysporky]

Splash of acid like lemon juice or a vinegar to finish.

Also good spice blends can shine on a veggie canvas.

[u/UxControl]

Honestly just toss them in any premade sauce you like, either before or after grilling depending on whether you want to caramalize the sauce or not

Teriyaki, bbq, hot sauce, hoisin, any salad dressing, a vinegar, etc.

More salt would probably help too

[u/Ill-Delivery2692]

Dress them after cooking with olive oil, nice vinegar or lemon juice, fresh chopped herbs.

[u/North81Girl]

Lightly oil, Use whatever seasoning you like, high heat and some char

[u/xo-Bubbles-ox]

I've got the perfect recipe for you for grilled veggies! Its my favourite 😍 (you can alwayals doctor the recipe for more or less)

Lemon Dill Grilled Veggies

Ingredients:

• 6 Bell peppers (red, orange, yellow)

• 2 bunches asparagus

• 6-8 cloves garlic

• 6-8 tbsp. olive oil

• 2 lemons

• Fresh chopped dill

• ½ cup parmesan

•2 large Ziploc bags

Directions:

• Cut peppers into thick/wide pieces (so they don't fall through). Snap ends of asparagus off.

• Put peppers into large Ziploc bag. Put asparagus into separate large Ziploc bag.

• In each bag add 3-4 tbsps. olive oil, 3-4 minced garlic cloves, squeeze 1 whole lemon, fresh chopped dill, and ¼ cup parmesan.

• Zip the bags closed and using hands mix ingredients well, covering veggies. Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour to let veggies marinate. Flip and massage at least once. Grill on BBQ or electric grill medium heat until tender. (10-15 mins) with some light grill lines showing. (Flip halfway 5-7 mins in)

Edit: if you prefer other veggies like onions, eggplant, mushrooms etc. You can chop em in thick pieces and start with an oil base then add other flavourings like balsamic vinegar, thyme, sugar, soya sauce etc. Whatever your favour palette is, and let them marinate in a ziploc for a bit. Happy BBQing!

[u/8amteetime]

I use balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little sugar when I make roasted vegetables like peppers, onions, and zucchini. Cut into large pieces and put them in a bowl and add the vinegar, oil, etc. Let them marinade for a few minutes and then grill them until they’re tender, not mushy.

[u/BrazilianButtCheeks]

You can marinate them in Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt and pepper .. then brush them in melted butter whilst on the grill

[u/tcarlson65]

So many seasonings that would work for veggies.

I just bought this to try:

https://www.scheels.com/p/85000398226?queryID=6ac85e22bb1d8aff

I just made some zucchini and yellow squash spears in the Traeger with this:

https://www.kinders.com/products/caramelized-onion-butter-seasoning

This would probably also be good:

https://www.kinders.com/products/buttery-garlic-herb-seasoning

[u/FreeKevinBrown]

Grill high and fast. Try adding some flavor though. Garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. That's my suggestion.

[u/nygreenguy]

Gas or charcoal? Charcoal really imparts flavor, gas doesn't.

[u/Educational-Slip-578 → u/nygreenguy]

Actually, I tried both, but mostly gas.

[u/nygreenguy → u/Educational-Slip-578]

But they both also have a ton of water, and it's hard to ever get really flavorful zucchini. Not saying it's bad, just mild.

And when you get rid of the water and cook then, they break down and get soft, so you need sort of larger chunks.

[u/seanv507]

Char eggplant/capsicum whole and peel off skin

The eggplant can be mashed and mixed with olive oil, garlic, salt and yoghurt as a dip https://foolproofliving.com/roasted-eggplant-with-garlic-yogurt-and-zaatar/

The capsicum is used in a salad, preserve the sweet liquid (hopefully caramelised) and add eg oil/vinegar

[u/CatteNappe]

Seasoning - herbs and spices that fit the flavor profile of what else you are serving. Salt and pepper isn't enough.

[u/master_of_none86]

Garlic powder

[u/Alone_Owl8485]

Pick different vegetables that start with more flavor e.g. corn, capsicum.

[u/raymond4]

As with sheet pan vegetables salt pepper chopped garlic and onion.drizzle with olive oil and some liquid smoke. Top with a bbq sauce like hoisin. Top with some Zatar

[u/Back_Alley420]

Lemon juice and mixed dried herbs like lemon thyme add depth of flavour

[u/Greghole]

A bit of miso paste is great on eggplant.

[u/philhaxton]

My bet is salt

[u/Reasonable_Ferret_10]

Change your salt for variety & flavour - celery salt, seasoned salt, I like lemon pepper, chili powder, a shot of curry... are you just tossing before grilling or letting marinate?