How to Grill Vegetables Without a Grill?

Alternative ways of grilling vegetables without using grill.

Summertime is grilling season, and you do not need meat and vegetable is enough to have deliciously grilled meals. However, what if you are one of those folks who does not have access to an outside grill? People’s barbecues and cookouts were a common topic of conversation as we grew up. Worst of all, we could sometimes smell the sweet aroma of barbecued food coming from the courtyards of our neighbors.

Grilled veggies are both tasty and a great source of vitamins and minerals. It is still possible to create those exquisite grill marks on them even if you do not have a BBQ or grill. All you need is a grill pan on the stovetop. What, there is not even a grill? Nothing to be concerned about! Here are many techniques of cooking that will allow you to get the most out of your grilling experience without having to worry about getting a call from the fire marshal.

Methods to Grill Vegetables Without Using a Grill

1) Use Grill Pan

A grill pan made of cast-iron features ridges that allow fat to drain off and out from the food, resulting in exquisite grill marks if the pan is heated to a high enough temperature. Cookware such as grill pans, which are bulky and cumbersome, may not be appropriate for small kitchens. However, the best part is that they are reasonably priced; a decent cast-iron one typically costs below $40. Grill pans, similar to the broiler, are best used for quick-cooking meals, but it does not indeed provide a smokey taste to the food they cook.

2) Grilling Vegetables in Aluminum Foil

To grill smaller vegetables like cut cauliflower, onions, and asparagus in a foil packet is also a simple way to cook them. On a gas grill, set the temperature to medium-high, which would be approximately 375 to 400 ° F. Clean any charred remains that have remained from your last grilling session. Make a double layer of aluminum foil after marinating or seasoning your vegetables with olive oil, pepper, and salt.

Wrap a strip of foil over the edges and seal them. Make a small hole on the top of the foil with a fork or knife to enable some steam to flow. You may grill the foil packet for approximately twenty to twenty-five minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and cooked according to your preference, under direct heat on the grill.

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3) Re-discover The Potential Of Your Broiler Pan

Take a look at your broiler as a barbecue that has been turned upside down. Heat comes from up top, rather than from the bottom as in a standard boiler, You will not be able to get those fantastic grill marks or the smokey taste that you would get from using charcoals, but you can generally get a nice char on your food. The broiler is an excellent replacement for the most quick-cooking grilled meals, but low-and-slow meals that need indirect heat will not work.

Even if your oven simply has a broiler drawer, I guess it depends on how soon you want the food to cook. You may place your rack anywhere from four to eight inches from the broiler in your oven cavity. Make sure you use the oven’s broiler pan or a solid rimmed baking sheet, no matter what kind of broiler you are using, catching any extra fat that may be dripping from the food. Foil-line the pans beforehand if you do not like cleaning.

Keep the oven door slightly propped open during the broiling process and monitor the foods often to avoid overcooking. Take the pan out of the oven and toss the food in midway through the cooking process. Cooking time for the majority of steaks and chunks is eight to ten minutes. Incorporate smokey elements into your recipes. Cooking using smokey ingredients is likely the most straightforward approach to simulate a grilled taste, and you can use them in conjunction with any of the two methods outlined above. 

Spice up meat or fish by seasoning it with smokey salt, smoky paprika, spray with smoky olive oil over vegetables or mix fresh or dried chipotle chilies (whether in whole or powdered form) into condiments and marinades. There is also the tried-and-true liquid smoke. A little goes a long way, so do not go overboard with it.

4) Adding Liquid Smoke

You can also use liquid smoke to mimic the smokey taste of grilling without utilizing a barbecue grill, and it can be purchased online or at a specialist cooking shop. The liquid generated from condensed smoke is filtered and condensed to enhance the smokey taste.

Also Read:  How to Use a Grill Pan for Vegetables?

Liquid smoke comes in various tastes, including mesquite and hickory, and should be used lightly to avoid overpowering recipes. You may apply a little liquid smoke on hamburgers, steaks, and pork chops to give them a smoked flavor. For a more subdued grilled taste, combine a small amount of liquid smoke with a small amount of balsamic vinegar before applying it over dishes.

5) Use Smoking Gun

Now we have determined that smoking is not the same as grilling. That is right! For those who want the juicy, delicious taste of a charcoal barbecue, you can have it in the comfort of your own home. Take a hint from chefs, who use a little tool known as The Smoking Gun to smoke anything from butter to uni. In addition, they are huge proponents of the Camerons stovetop smoker for indoors.

However, you do not need to purchase any specific equipment. Simply follow this do-it-yourself technique. To begin, ventilate your space first. Following that, prepare a pan with heavy-duty foil and scatter some tiny dry hardwood chips such as applewood on its top. Prepare another piece of aluminum foil placed on top of the chips, followed by a rack. Poke tiny holes using a fork on the top of your rack after wrapping it with aluminum foil.

Heat a burner to high heat temperature and put the rigged smoker on it. Using a rack, lay your foods such as cuts veggies, salmon filets, and smaller bits of meats on it and closely wrap the pan with aluminum foil. Once the smoke begins to flow at a consistent pace from the pan, you can start smoking your food. After thirty seconds to 1 minute of smoking, uncover, take the dish from the smoker, and finish cooking it as usual under the grill pan.

6) Cook with Grill Basket on Stove

An alternative to foil packs is to use a grill basket, which may do in less time. On a gas grill, set the temperature to medium-high, approximately 375 to 400 ° F. Remove any charred parts that have remained from your last grilling session. Your grill basket should be preheated for around ten minutes to avoid the vegetables from sticking.

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Use olive oil, pepper, and salt to season your vegetables once they have been marinated. Make sure to select vegetables that are all of the exact sizes to cook together smoothly. Close the lid of your grill basket after placing your veggies within it. The grill basket can cook the veggies for around twenty minutes, then set a five to eight minutes intervals of turning or tossing the veggies.

7) Culinary Torch

Culinary torches are a common kitchen tool, with many of us using them to brown meringues, caramelize cheese, and top some breadcrumbs over grilled vegetables.

When grilling, you may use the same torch to sear the meats and veggies, which will enhance their flavor and appearance. Using a torch after the food has been grilled, you may add a charred flavor to red bell peppers, maize, chicken breasts, and a luscious steak.


Final Words

It does not matter whether you grill outdoors or indoors; the strong taste of succulent grilled veggies will not disappoint you. After learning how to grill veggies, you will be able to enjoy them not just during the summertime but all year round. If you follow the recommendations in this article, you will learn how to cook without a grill and get delicious results every time. Try a few different methods to discover which one produces the most remarkable results and grilled taste.

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