Hello, Summer! It’s time to grill!

As we move into the summer months, we often look forward to traditional meals surrounding holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July or even the casual outdoor get-together with friends and family. But this year when gathering for a barbeque why not attempt a new perspective on classical grilling? Instead of the typical BBQ favorites such as hotdogs or hamburgers, here are some unique options to try as part of your summertime menu:

For Vegetarians and Vegans:

Tofu Vegetable Kabobs

- Purchase reusable or disposable skewers

- Slice a zucchini, an onion, a bell-pepper, a tomato and some firm tofu into medium sized chunks.

- Assemble the vegetables and tofu chunks on to the skewers

- Grill the skewers on each side for 15 minutes until lightly browned.

- Optional: You can marinate the vegetables and tofu with vegan BBQ sauce or maybe even try one of these vegan marinades - lightly spread the marinade on the pre-chopped tofu chunks and vegetables before assembling and grilling.

For Pescatarians:

Grilled Salmon with Garlic Asparagus

- Create a marinade by combining lemon juice, olive oil and minced garlic (option: add a tsp or 2 of dijon mustard).

- Spread the marinade on the raw salmon before cooking and let sit for up to 10 minutes. Place salmon on the heated grill and cook for about 3-5 minutes per side depending on thickness. When done, salmon should be opaque in the center.

- Grill the asparagus in a separate saucepan on the indoor stove.

- Add the rest of the marinade to the saucepan to bring that garlic lemon flavors to the asparagus as well.

For Meat Eaters:

Bison Burgers (a lean nutritious alternative to beef)

- Purchase ground bison meat available in most grocery stores such as Ralphs and Kroger.

- Create 4 medium sized patties with the ground meat, season with salt, pepper and other preferred seasonings. Cook on the preheated grill for about 5 minutes per side. The National Bison Association states that the meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160°F and the juices should be clear.

- Add this cooked patty to a delicious brioche bun with slices of cheese, tomato, avocado, fresh greens or even some bean sprouts for an additional crunch.

By Erin Hainey

References and Picture Credits:

1. https://foodwithfeeling.com/easy-tofu-kebabs/

2. https://cafedelites.com/one-pan-lemon-garlic-baked-salmon-asparagus/

3. https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_grilled_salmon/

4. https://bisoncentral.com/how-to-cook-bison/

5. https://healthyrecipesblogs.com/bison-burger-recipe/

6. https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/12-seitan-or-tofu-marinades/

7. https://www.foodiecrush.com/california-style-bison-burger/

8. https://www.alongthewineroad.com/get-your-summer-grilling-on/