As the sun warms up and the days stretch longer, there’s a delicious promise in the air: grilling season! And what better way to celebrate than with a dish that perfectly captures the essence of summer? Introducing this incredible Easy Grilled Salad – a vibrant, flavorful, and surprisingly warm salad that will redefine your perception of outdoor cooking. Forget sad, soggy greens; this salad is packed with perfectly charred vegetables and finished with a luscious, creamy garlic dressing that will have you coming back for more.
This comprehensive guide and recipe were made possible with support from Ocean Mist Farms. All insights and opinions shared are genuinely my own, and I’m thrilled to partner with brands that help bring delicious, wholesome food to your table. Your support for these partnerships keeps Food with Feeling thriving!
Unlock the Flavor: Why You Need to Grill Your Salad This Summer
Have you ever contemplated the magic of a GRILLED salad? For many, the idea might seem unconventional at first. The very thought of putting delicate lettuce on a hot grill might evoke skepticism. However, allow me to dispel any doubts: once you try it, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing it all along. The gentle char from the grill imparts an unparalleled smoky depth and a tender crispness to the romaine, elevating it from a simple side to a star attraction.
While some grilled salads focus solely on romaine, my aim for this recipe was to create a symphony of flavors and textures. We’re taking this concept several steps further by grilling a vibrant selection of summer’s best produce. This approach doesn’t just add color and nutrition; it introduces a complex flavor profile that makes this dish surprisingly simple to prepare, yet exceptionally satisfying and utterly delicious!
And because I believe no meal is truly complete without a touch of broccoli, I’ve incorporated Ocean Mist Farms’ Season and Steam Sweet Baby Broccoli. This brilliant product requires only THREE minutes in the microwave, allowing this entire wholesome meal to come together effortlessly. It’s a game-changer for busy weeknights, ensuring you get your greens without the fuss.
A Bounty of Summer Goodness: The Vegetables for Our Grilled Salad
Beyond the delightful baby broccoli from Ocean Mist Farms, here are the stars of our grilled salad, each chosen for its ability to transform beautifully on the grill, offering unique textures and bursting flavors:
- Romaine Lettuce: The foundation of our salad, romaine develops a beautiful smoky flavor and a tender-crisp texture when grilled, making it an exciting departure from traditional raw greens.
- Corn on the Cob: Grilling corn brings out its natural sweetness, adding a delightful crunch and a caramelized edge that’s simply irresistible.
- Zucchini: A quintessential summer squash, zucchini becomes wonderfully tender with a slight char, absorbing smoky notes beautifully.
- Bell Pepper: Whether red, yellow, or orange, bell peppers sweeten and soften on the grill, adding a juicy, vibrant counterpoint to the other ingredients.
- Fresh Cherry Tomatoes: While not grilled, these burst with fresh, tangy sweetness, providing a refreshing contrast to the warm, smoky elements.
This thoughtfully curated selection ensures a salad that’s not only visually appealing but also a culinary adventure with every bite. The combination of grilled and fresh ingredients creates a dynamic and truly satisfying experience.
The Secret Weapon: Our Irresistible Creamy Garlic Dressing
While you’re certainly welcome to use your preferred dressing, I wholeheartedly encourage you to try my creamy garlic dressing. It’s a remarkably simple concoction that comes together in minutes, yet it delivers an extraordinary burst of flavor that perfectly complements the smoky, sweet, and savory notes of the grilled vegetables. This dressing isn’t just an accompaniment; it’s the unifying element that ties all the diverse components of this salad into a harmonious, unforgettable dish. Its rich texture and pungent garlic kick create a truly addictive experience, elevating the entire salad to gourmet status.
Serving Your Grilled Salad: Three Delicious Ways to Enjoy
One of the beauties of this grilled salad recipe is its versatility in presentation. Depending on your preference or the occasion, you can serve it in several equally delicious ways:
- Serve Everything Whole: For a rustic and impressive presentation, arrange the grilled romaine halves and whole grilled corn, zucchini, and bell peppers artfully on a large platter. This style allows guests to appreciate the individual grilled elements.
- Wedge Salad Style: Keep the grilled romaine halves intact and artfully arrange the chopped grilled vegetables on top. This mirrors the elegant presentation of a traditional wedge salad, offering a beautiful visual appeal and a satisfying bite of both the crisp grilled lettuce and tender toppings.
- Traditional Chopped Salad: My personal favorite approach! After cooking, chop ALL the grilled vegetables and romaine into bite-sized pieces. Toss everything together in a large bowl with the creamy garlic dressing. This method ensures every forkful is a perfect medley of flavors and textures, making it incredibly easy to eat and enjoy.
Each method offers a unique experience, allowing you to tailor the salad to your mood or dining style. Whether you prefer a more structured presentation or a delightfully tossed mix, the flavors remain consistently outstanding.
The Convenience Factor: Ocean Mist Farms Season and Steam Veggies
If you haven’t already, I enthusiastically recommend exploring Ocean Mist Farms’ complete range of Season and Steam vegetables. Having tried nearly every product in their line, I can confidently say I am utterly captivated. There’s truly nothing comparable to the convenience of having incredibly fresh, high-quality vegetables that can be perfectly cooked in just a few minutes with minimal effort. Their Season and Steam line has revolutionized my weeknight dinners, making it effortlessly simple to incorporate healthier options into our meals. This innovative product ensures that even on the busiest days, you can enjoy nutritious and delicious vegetables without compromising on quality or taste.
For more inspiring recipes featuring their convenient Season and Steam Veggies, you can discover them right here on Food with Feeling! These recipes are designed to maximize flavor while minimizing prep time, perfectly aligning with a healthy, busy lifestyle.
Easy Grilled Salad Recipe
Easy Grilled Salad
Brita Britnell
10 mins
10 mins
4 servings
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Ingredients
For the salad:
- 2 heads of romaine lettuce, cut in half longways
- 2 ears of corn, shucked
- 1 zucchini, cut in half lengthways (or quartered if larger)
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch strips
- Olive oil for brushing
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
- Optional for topping: Sunflower seeds, pine nuts or other seed/nut
- 1 bag of Ocean Mist Season and Steam Sweet Baby Broccoli
For the dressing:
- ⅓ cup of mayo, vegan as desired
- 2 cloves of garlic, grated or finely minced
- ¼ teaspoon of onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon of dill, fresh or dried
- Zest and juice of 1/2 a lemon
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat your grill to high heat (about 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius).
- Lay out the romaine lettuce halves, corn, zucchini, and bell pepper on a large tray or plate. Lightly brush all the vegetables with olive oil. A cooking spray can also be used for convenience.
- Place the corn on the preheated grill and cook for 8 minutes, rotating it a quarter turn halfway through to ensure even charring. After 8 minutes, add the zucchini and bell pepper to the grill alongside the corn, and continue grilling for an additional 5 minutes. At this point, rotate the corn another quarter turn, and flip the bell pepper and zucchini. Finally, add the romaine lettuce, cut side down, to the grill and cook everything for 4 more minutes. During the last minute of grilling, flip the romaine to char lightly on the other side.
- Carefully remove all grilled vegetables and lettuce from the grill and allow them to cool slightly. Once they are cool enough to handle comfortably, cut the corn kernels from the cob and dice the bell pepper and zucchini into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare the Season and Steam broccoli according to the package directions (typically 3 minutes in the microwave). Let it cool slightly, then chop it into smaller pieces if desired.
- For the dressing, combine all the listed ingredients in a small bowl and whisk them together until smooth and well combined. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- To serve, arrange a grilled romaine half (or chopped romaine) as the base. Top generously with the grilled corn, zucchini, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and chopped steamed broccoli. Drizzle liberally with the creamy garlic dressing and sprinkle with sunflower seeds, pine nuts, or your preferred topping for added crunch. Enjoy this refreshing and satisfying grilled salad!
As always, I genuinely love to hear from you! If you decide to make this delightful grilled salad recipe, please share your thoughts and let me know how much you enjoyed it. You can return here to leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram (@foodwithfeeling). Your feedback truly inspires me!
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