6 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Grill

With summer time right around the corner, that means so is grilling season! There are so many benefits to grilling your food. And not to mention, the possibilities of what you can grill are endless! Grilling isn’t just for making a juicy burger or tender piece of steak anymore. You can grill anything from vegetables, fruits, salad, fish, tofu, pizza and more!

And with the GoWISE USA Smokeless Electric Indoor Grill, you can experience that grilled food taste while indoors! It is compact enough to fit on your kitchen counter and store away in your kitchen cabinets afterwards. And smoking up the whole house? You don’t have to worry about that when you simply pour water into the drip tray. It eliminates smoke, while still giving your food that smoky flavor! We at GoWISE USA have found some helpful tips for you to use when grilling and different recipes you didn’t know were possible with a grill!

Health Benefits of Grilling

When you are grilling, you eat less fat because the excess fat melts and drips off as you grill. Vegetables on the grill are better for you, because they retain more of their vitamins and minerals. Vegetables that you toss on the grill are usually fresh, which is a healthier alternative from canned vegetables. When grilling meat, it actually preserves more riboflavin and thiamine. These nutrients play an important role in a healthy diet, because they boost your metabolism and increase your energy. Because the grill locks in more moisture, making your creations juicier, you will be less prone to reach for condiments to jazz up your meals. This means eating fewer calories and putting less unhealthy stuff in your body.

Tips for Grilling Fruits

Fruits are a great item to grill because grilling will bring out their natural sugars, making for a fiercely sweeter treat! Since fruit is fairly fragile, make sure to cut them into larger slices and chunks to help maintain their shape. When grilling fruits, make sure you use an oil that will work at high temperatures and also compliment the flavor of your fruits. We recommend using coconut oil or grape seed oil. You will only need to brush a slight amount of oil on your fruit. It is your preference if you want to grill your fruit with the skin or without! Skewers can be used to thread your fruit on to ensure it won’t fall through the grates, but with our Electric Indoor Grill you won’t have to! Some fruits that we know grill really well are apples, strawberries, mango, pineapple and more! If you are grilling citrus fruits, like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits, coat them with sugar beforehand! This will keep the rinds from sticking and will result in a caramelized finish.

Tips for Grilling Vegetables

Grilled vegetables are also the perfect side to any meal because of that yummy, caramelized flavor they give off. Grilling larger vegetables, such as zucchini, cauliflower or potatoes is just as easy as grilling smaller ones. Simply cut larger vegetables into thick planks, brush both sides with olive oil, sprinkle with your desired toppings and grill for 2-4 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness. Grilling corn on the cob is pretty straightforward, just remove the husks and place on the grill. Use skewers to grill smaller veggies, such as peppers, Brussels sprouts or mushrooms, especially if you are using an outdoor grill, to prevent them from falling through the grates.

With the GoWISE USA Indoor Electric Grill, you can cook any vegetable you want on the surface and not have to worry about them falling through. Grilling lettuce (yes, lettuce) can be done! Romaine, radicchio, iceberg, endive and cabbage are all ideal for grilling because they char nicely. The best method for grilling lettuce is to slice it vertically, drizzle with olive oil and seasoning and place cut-side down on your grill. You will only need to cook lettuce slightly to achieve that wilted quality because of its already light texture. Grilling avocados gives them that smoky flavor that raw avocados can’t offer. Try to select larger avocados that are mostly ripe. All you have to do is peel and slice them, remove the pit and brush with olive oil before grilling. A benefit of grilling this food is they can be saved for several days before turning brown. This is because coating them with olive oil prevents oxidation.

All in all, grilling vegetables is a great idea because it adds more flavor to your meals without having to add too many extra, heavy sauces or fats.

Grilled Corn with Garlic Cheese Mayo

The flavored crunchiness of this dish will remind you of the corn you get on the food carts on the local streets. We selected paprika powder as our seasoning of choice to spice it up a little. The lime juice adds to that already zesty taste. If you aren’t fond of a spicier flavor, feel free to add the toppings of your choosing! It is important to remember to let your grill heat up first to ensure your food isn’t overcooked or dried out from staying on the grill too long.

Ingredients:

4 corn on the cobs

3 tbsp butter

1 tbsp paprika powder

5 tbsp cheesy garlic mayonnaise

4 lime wedges

few cilantro leaves for garnish

1 tbsp grated parmesan

Directions:

Pull the husk on the corn and tie them back. Rub the butter all over the cob to ensure it is fully coated. Then, spread the cheesy garlic mayonnaise on all sides of the corn. Sprinkle paprika powder evenly over the cob. Repeat steps for remaining cobs.

Turn your grill on to medium high and let it heat up. Place the corn on the grill and grill for 15 minutes or until fully cooked, turning occasionally. Remove the corn from the grill and rub fresh lime over the corn. Sprinkle a few fresh cilantro leaves on top with parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Strawberry Shortcake Skewers with Blueberry Glaze

The overload of sweetness in this dessert makes it an excellent one to grill up. The combination of the soft strawberry texture and crispy pound cake texture makes this the perfect summer recipe. Using corn oil for the mixture is ideal because when grilling it has very little odor and a high smoke point with a mild flavor. The strawberries and pound cake do not need a lot of time on the grill, because of their delicate character. We opted for a blueberry flavored glaze to switch it up from strawberry but go ahead and make your own glaze!

Ingredients:

Skewers:

1 pound cake

2 lbs. strawberries

2 tbsp Mazola corn oil

2 tbsp honey

Cream:

1 cup whipping cream

2 tbsp granulated sugar

zest of ½ lemon

Glaze:

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

1 tbsp whipping cream

½ tsp fresh lemon juice

¼ cup blueberries, thawed if frozen

Directions:

Preheat the grill to low-medium heat. While you are waiting for the grill to preheat, slice the pound cake into slices and then into cubes. In a small bowl, combine the corn oil and honey.

Using a mixer, beat the cream, sugar and lemon zest in a bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use.

Thread the pound cake cubes and strawberries through skewers. If using wooden skewers, be sure to soak the skewers in water for 1 hour before using. Then, lightly brush the oil and honey mixture all over the skewers.

Grill the skewers for 2 minutes per side, or until the pound cake is golden brown and the strawberries are slightly softened.

In a blender, combine all of the glaze ingredients and blend until smooth. Drizzle over the skewers and serve skewers alongside the cream.