Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad
There's something special about grilled vegetables. I don't know if it's the charred flavor, the gorgeous grill marks, or simply the fact that they constantly remind me it's summer, but whatever it is, I couldn't be more content eating them.
Grilling can take many forms, but for most it's a pastime enjoyed outside, looking over a beautiful backyard, white wine glass in hand, enjoying the weather. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Well sadly, for Mr. Henderson and myself, this isn't the way we grill. For us, it's an indoor grill / panini machine.
We live on the top floor of our apartment building, with no direct access outside, so an outdoor grill is kind of out of the question. I wish with all my heart that we could relish in a backyard BBQ, but life in a studio apartment has its limitations.
But who says that grilling inside can't be just as fun? We were both kicking back on the sofa, white wine glasses in hand, watching the sunset over the lake from our window, in a comfortably air conditioned apartment. Life seems pretty good to me.
When we started thinking about dinner last night, we planned to make quinoa stuffed portabella mushroom caps, but it felt too heavy for the hot evening. {Plus we had made a totally decadent dessert, a twist on Coco's Vanilla Cream Pies – recipe coming soon – so we wanted something light and healthy}. A grilled vegetable salad sounded perfect.
We wanted a salad that was refreshing and packed full of summer vegetables. At Saturday's Farmer's Market, we picked up organic summer squash and a bunch of radishes, and Sunday we went strawberry picking at a local farm, so into the salad all our new goodies went. The portabella mushrooms gave the salad a bit more depth and added some “meat”, which was just what we wanted. Simply summer at its finest.
How do you enjoy your grilled veggies?
Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad with a Watermelon Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 cups mixed field greens
- 2 small portabella mush room caps stems & gills removed, thickly sliced
- 1 small summer squash cut into thick strips
- 1 cup fresh strawberries chopped
- 2 large radishes thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup watermelon
- 4 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Non-stick olive oil spray or alternative
Instructions
- Turn grill on medium high heat and spray with non-stick spray
- Place the slices of portabella mushrooms and summer squash onto the grill
- Lightly spray the tops of the veggies and sprinkle with salt and pepper
- Cook for 3 -5 minutes, until you have golden brown grill marks and flip
- Cook on the other side for another 3 - 5 minutes until the veggies are soft
- While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the dressing by combining watermelon, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice into a blender and blend on high until smooth
- Split the field greens between two large salad bowls
- Top with strawberries, radishes and grilled veggies
- Drizzle with watermelon balsamic dressing and serve
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Thank you for the delicious salad recipe for summer season.
You’re so welcome!
[…] grilled summer vegetable salad from simply quinoa […]
Gorgeous salad! One of my favorite summer salads is grilled as well. . . just adds such a lovely flavor. And thanks so much for linking up to the Chillin’ and Grillin’ event! 😀
Thanks Ricki! Grilling is my favorite. It just screams summer and tastes so good. I love the idea behind the event, so was super happy to link up! And can’t wait to see what everyone else links up 🙂 xo!
[…] involves no-cook foods or foods served ice-cold. You know, dishes like salad, pâtés and dips, grilled veggies (or grilled anything!), ice creams, mousses, or chilled pies and tarts. Juicy, crispy, colorful […]
[…] Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad from Queen of Quinoa […]
[…] from Queen of Quinoa submitted her Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad. In this recipe, she left her beloved quinoa out in favor of grilled mushrooms and squash and […]
This looks delicious! I’d love for you to link it up to this month’s Go Ahead Honey It’s Gluten Free event if you’re willing! The roundup will go live on July 1. http://www.againstallgrain.com/2012/06/06/go-ahead-honey-its-gluten-free-seasonal-salads/