Grilled Zucchini Skewers Recipes

GRILLED ZUCCHINI AND PROSCIUTTO SKEWERS

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Spray the grill with vegetable oil cooking spray.
• For the pesto: Pulse the basil, nuts, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper until finely chopped in a blender or food processor. With the machine running, gradually add the oil until the mixture is smooth and thick. Add the cheese and pulse until just incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the skewers: Thread 1 round of zucchini onto a skewer. Thread 1 crumpled piece of prosciutto onto the skewer. Repeat 3 more times ending with a round of zucchini. Each skewer should have 5 rounds of zucchini and 4 pieces of prosciutto. Drizzle the skewers with olive oil and grill, turning occasionally, until the zucchini are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Brush the skewers with the pesto, using a pastry brush, and serve.

GRILLED VEGGIE SKEWERS

Steps:

• Soak skewers in water for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Alternately thread zucchini slices, yellow squash slices, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, pineapple, and bell pepper onto the skewers.
• Whisk olive oil, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; brush mixture over vegetables.
• Cook skewers on preheated grill until vegetables are tender, turning and basting vegetables with olive oil mixture occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI SKEWERS WITH JALAPENO YOGURT DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For the jalapeno yogurt dipping sauce: Heat the grill to high. Brush the jalapenos with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides and tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a cutting board; leave the grill on.
• Halve the jalapenos lengthwise and remove the seeds; leave the skin on. Put the jalapenos in a food processor with the parsley, cilantro, Parmesan, pine nuts and some salt and pepper; pulse until roughly chopped. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and thick. Taste and season as desired. Put the yogurt in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Swirl the pesto into the yogurt and set aside.
• For the zucchini skewers: Thread 3 or 4 zucchini rounds onto two parallel skewers, so that the cut sides will lay flat on the grill. Brush the zucchini with canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, uncovered, until charred and tender, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter and drizzle with some olive oil. Serve with the jalapeno yogurt sauce.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI RIBBONS

Steps:

• Set up your grill for direct grilling and heat to high (450 to 600 degrees). Brush or scrape the grill grate clean and oil it with a tightly folded paper towel dipped in vegetable oil and drawn across the bars of the grate with tongs. If using bamboo skewers, soak in cold water.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, 1 tablespoon barbecue rub and lemon zest, and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
• Cut off and discard the ends of the zucchini. Using a mandolin outfitted with a finger guard, thinly slice one zucchini lengthwise into slices scant 1/8-inch thick. You can also use a chef's knife to cut slices lengthwise just shy of 1/8-inch thick. (Try folding your first or second strip. If it breaks at the fold, it means it's too thick.) Lay the slices flat on a sheet pan. Lightly brush the tops with enough barbecue butter to lightly coat and lightly sprinkle with some of the remaining 2 tablespoons barbecue rub.
• Fold a zucchini slice into an accordion shape (like multiple Ws or ribbon candy) and thread it onto a metal or soaked bamboo skewer. Continue threading until all the slices from the zucchini are on the skewer. Slice, brush, season and skewer the remaining zucchini the same way. You should wind up with 6 skewers.
• Arrange the zucchini kebabs, skin sides down, on the grate. Grill (covered if using a gas grill), basting with any remaining barbecue butter and turning to evenly brown, until singed at some of the edges, 1 to 2 minutes per side (4 to 8 minutes in all). Season with salt if needed and serve.