Picture a grill. Got it? Okay, what’s cooking? Is it burgers? Steak? Hot dogs? People tend to limit their grilling to a few familiar dishes—but your grill is a lot more versatile than you give it credit for. That smokey flavor doesn’t only work well for meat. Next time you’re thinking of firing up the grill, branch out and try one of these creative barbecue-inspired recipes.
Grillin’ Gumbo
This Grillin’ Gumbo recipe from Regal Springs puts a twist on a Louisiana classic. It features sautéed bell peppers and onions seasoned with a blackened seafood spice blend, plus mussels, clams and shrimp. But the real star of this dish is the grilled Tilapia that tops the gumbo. The complex flavors, high protein content and omega-3 fatty acids make this a dish you’ll want to bookmark to make again.
Grilled Shrimp with Honey Ginger Barbecue Sauce
Of all the ways to prepare shrimp, the grill delivers the tastiest, juiciest flavor. This Grilled Shrimp with Honey Ginger Barbecue Sauce recipe from Epicurious is a super easy way to cook shrimp. All you have to do is thread the shrimp onto kebab skewers, brush the shrimp with the barbecue sauce and grill for four minutes.
Grilled Harissa Tilapia
African foods are definitely on trend right now, and spice lovers will enjoy this Grilled Harissa Tilapia recipe from Regal Springs. This spicy dish gets its zing from harissa, a North African hot chili paste. First, bring some golden raisins and white wine to a boil. Allow them to rest while you sauté some cauliflower. Once that’s done, grill the Tilapia fillets over medium heat and serve immediately on a bed of cauliflower and raisins, topped with harissa.
Grilled Vegetables
Getting tired of salad? Why not grill your veggies instead? This Grilled Vegetables recipe from Food Network’s celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis features an assortment of veggies grilled to perfection and drizzled with a light herb dressing of balsamic vinegar, garlic, parsley, basil and rosemary. De Laurentiis suggests grilling squash, zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms and asparagus, but almost any vegetable you have on hand will grill well. This recipe makes a great pairing for a seafood main.
Grilled Tilapia Tacos
If you want to up your fish taco game, try this Grilled Tilapia Tacos recipe from Serious Eats. Brush the Tilapia with oil and season it with salt and ancho chili powder. Then grill and tuck it into a warm corn tortilla along with chipotle crema, cabbage, onion and fresh salsa.
For some extra tips and inspiration, check out our top tips for grilling perfectly flaky fish, the best marinades for fish before they hit the grill and 10 barbecue recipes that are sure to wow.
Photo credits: S_Photo / Shutterstock.com, Regal Springs, Epicurious, Regal Springs, koss 13 / Shutterstock.com, Serious Eats