Grilled asparagus is a healthy, delicious side dish that goes great with any cookout. Grilling asparagus brings out a sweeter flavor that you just will not get by cooking on the stove. The only problem with grilling this vegetable is that they tend to fall through the grate on the grill. Well, I’ve got the solution on how to grill asparagus without losing the spears through the grill grates.

How to Grill Asparagus

The first step is preparing the asparagus. After you have washed it thoroughly grab a asparagus spear and bend the stalk over with your other hand. The asparagus will break where the woody portion ends and the tender section begins. You can throw out the woody base.

Now there are several different ways to make grilled asparagus without it falling through the grate. One is using skewers, the other is using aluminum foil, and the other is using a vegetable grill basket. I definitely prefer using skewers or toothpicks when grilling asparagus because I like for them to be directly on the grate getting that great grill flavor.

The use of bamboo skewers is a lot easier than toothpicks because they are larger and longer, but both will still work. You will want to soak your skewers in water for around an hour before using them. This is to prevent them from catching fire when grilling. Place 4 or 5 asparagus spears side by side and skewer them just below the tips and also an inch or so from the bottom. It will basically look like an asparagus raft.

You can use either a charcoal grill or a gas grill when you grill asparagus, it really doesn’t matter. I am a charcoal grill guy so I tend to use that more often. Either way you need to set up your grill for high, direct heat. Make sure you preheat those grills to high before you place the asparagus on it.

Once your grill is all set and preheated, place the asparagus directly over the fire. They will not take long to cook, so don’t walk away. You will want to grill them for 2 to 4 minutes per side. With the asparagus spears skewered into a raft it is really easy to turn them with a pair of tongs. That’s it, 2 to 4 minutes per side and you are done.

Now if you want to know how to grill asparagus using aluminum foil or a vegetable grill basket it is really simple too. Prep your grill and your asparagus the same way as above minus the skewers of course. If you are using foil tear a sheet large enough for a single layer of asparagus. You want a single lay so it cooks easier. Place your asparagus in the center and fold each end of the foil over to seal the asparagus inside. Place this pouch directly over the flame as before. Using this method it will take around 4 to 6 minutes per side. Make sure to flip it half way through. Once it’s done open the pouch to check for your desired amount of doneness. Some people prefer it softer, while others like it crisper.

Using a vegetable grill basket is almost the same as cooking the asparagus right over the flame, but you don’t need the skewers. If you have a grill basket place the prepared vegetable in a single layer in the basket on a grill preheat to high. Grill the asparagus for about 3 to 5 minutes per side, turning with a pair of tongs.

Now that you know how to grill asparagus how about we get into some marinades and asparagus recipes?

Grilled Asparagus Recipes

There is no sense in cooking it up without adding a bit for flavor to it, that is way makes asparagus marinades so great. The marinades are really simple and add some really unique flavors to your asparagus. Two of the most popular recipes are sesame grill asparagus and Italian grilled asparagus.

Sesame Asparagus

What you will need is about 1 pound of asparagus prepared as explained above, 2 Tbsp sesame oil, 2 Tbsp sesame seeds, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 minced garlic clove, kosher salt and black pepper.

In a small bowl mix together the sesame oil, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Brush this mixture on both sides of your prepared asparagus. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Place the asparagus on the grill and cook as explained above. As they cook sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Italian Asparagus

This recipe is basically the same as the sesame recipe but we will substitute olive oil for the sesame oil and lemon juice for the soy sauce.

What you will need is about 1 pound of asparagus prepared as explained above, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, kosher salt and black pepper.

In a small bowl mix together the olive oil, lemon juice and minced garlic. Brush this mixture on both sides of your prepared asparagus. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Place the asparagus on the grill and cook as explained above. As the asparagus cooks you can optionally sprinkle it with a bit of fresh chopped herbs or some grated Parmesan cheese.

Play with different marinades to find that flavor that is unique to you, there are many different spices and marinades you could try.

It is really simple to cook grilled asparagus, and it makes such a wonderful side dish to any cookout. Now that you know how to grill asparagus make sure you try making this delicious, healthy grilled dish.

If you wanted to try grilling your asparagus using a grill basket, they are not a very big investment and they come in really handy for grilling all sorts of vegetable. They are great for vegetable of all shapes and sizes. The vegetable grill basket I prefer is this one >> Vegetable Grill Basket

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Grilled corn on the cob is an absolutely fabulous side dish to any grilled meal. You can eat it right off the cob, or it makes a perfect addition to salsas and salads.

How to grill corn is actually a very simple and fast process, but there are a couple schools of thought when it comes to doing it. Some say to leave the husk on while others say to take it off. Those that say to leave it on argue that the husk protects the kernels from the high heat, and those that argue against it say that leaving the husk on just steams the corn rather than grilling it.

For grilling corn on the cob I lean toward the huskless method, so you can get that nice golden brown color and fired flavor. So, let me show you how easy it is to make grilled corn on the cob.

Whether you use a charcoal grill or a gas grill you are going to want to set it up for direct cooking with high heat, meaning you will cook directly over the heat source.

While the grill is heating up, take your corn and strip back the husk starting from the top of the ear of corn. Make sure to leave the husk attacked at the stem end. Once you have the husk pulled back remove all the corn silk and with a piece of string tie back the husk over the stalk forming a handle.

Once your grill is preheated to high brush each ear of corn with a bit of butter and place them on the hot grill. Arrange the ears so that the husk is away from the flame. You can do this by arranging the ears so that the husk hangs over the edge of the grill grate, or another way is by sliding a piece of aluminum foil under the husks.

Grill the corn until it is browned all over which will take around 8 to 12 minutes. Make sure to turn the corn as needed.

Once it’s done brush it with some more butter, and season it with a bit of salt and pepper. It is a fast and easy dish, and it make a great side dish to any grilled meal.

You can also try out some different seasonings and butters to give your grilled corn on the cob a whole new flavor.

Another great way make grilled corn on the cob is to use a corn basket. These baskets are pretty neat, as they make grilling corn really simple. They are non-stick which is great for clean-up and they will hold a variety of shapes and sizes of corn. If you are looking for an alternative method of grilling corn than what I talked about above, you will want to check one of these baskets out >> Corn Basket

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I am a food and drink lover. I like to spend a lot of my free time trying out a new dish in the kitchen or manning the grill. What goes great with a perfect meal? Well of course, the perfect drink. And many times that perfect drink is a beer.

I am fond of many types of beers; there are probably not too many styles that I haven’t tried. It is my creative side and my desire to try new things that led me to the home brewing hobby. I’ve been brewing beer for over 10 years, and during that time I’ve made more beer than I can even remember.

It is a very rewarding hobby, one that you can share the fruits of your labor with friends and family. And when you brew your own beer you never seem to have a shortage of friends. Being very passionate about the hobby I decided to create a guide on How to Home Brew Beer.

The guide that I created is geared for those just starting out in the hobby to get their feet wet. Even If you know absolutely nothing about brewing this guide will get you up and started. It teaches the history of beer, the basic ingredients, the basics of how to brew, and it also contains 13 Delicious Beer Recipes. It comes complete with a resource guide, so you can easily obtain all the necessary ingredients.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to brew your own beer or someone in your family does, pick up the How to Brew Guide. It contains simple, easy to follow directions for making your own beers. And you know what the best part about the guide is? It is absolutely FREE.

Get Your Free Beginners Guide to Homebrewing along with 13 Easy and Delicious Beer Recipes Here:

How to Brew Guide

Thanks for checking out my Free beginners home brew guide.

Cheers!

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Smoking food is no longer reserved for those of us with charcoal grills, or dedicated smokers. Just because you only have a gas grill doesn’t mean you can’t smoke with it. I’ll show you how to easily smoke with a gas grill.

As a big time griller, I have all sorts of different grills for different purposes, but I know not everyone does. You have a gas grill, but you’d love to smoke some foods; guess what, it is no problem.

It is actually very easy to smoke using a gas grill. If you’re lucky you might have a grill that has a slide out smoker box. Some grill models come with this smoker drawer that you pull out and fill with wood chips. Just follow the manufacturer’s directions on your specific model and you’ll be smoking with your gas grill in no time.

However, if you’re like me, your gas grill doesn’t have a smoker box. It doesn’t matter; you still can smoke with it. What you need to do is make a smoker pouch.

• Soak your favorite wood chips for an hour or so.
• Using a sheet Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil, place a handful or two of soaked wood chips in the center.
• Fold all sides up to make the pouch. You’ll want to double-fold at the edges to create a better seal.
• Using a knife, poke several holes on the top side of the pouch.
• Place the pouch under the grate directly over one of the burners.
• Heat the grill on high until you see smoke, then adjust the temperature to the level you want to cook at.

Pretty simple huh? If you can fold aluminum foil into a pouch you can smoke on your gas grill. Now, if you are smoking large cuts of meat or even a turkey you’ll want to make a bigger smoker pouch. Just add several handfuls of soaked chips to a larger sheet of foil. Another option is to use wood chunks. With wood chunks you can just place them under the grate directly over a burner just as you wood with the smoker pouch.

Now you have no excuse not to try smoking, since now smoking on a gas grill can easily be done.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making a pouch or if you want to smoke often with your gas grill then a Cast Iron Smoker Box would be perfect for you. They are simple to use and easy to clean, but best of all they will give your food a great smokey flavor. You can check out a really good one here >> Cast Iron Smoker Box

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An easy way to give any of your food that hot off the grill smoky flavor is to add a dash of smoked salt. You certainly can go out and purchase it, but you’ll have much more control if you make it yourself. Oh, and by the way, it’s easy.

Smoked salt is easy to make and it keeps well in a sealed jar. Experiment with a variety of different woods to come up with unique flavors. Oak, mesquite, apple, and hickory are all great options when deciding on what wood to smoke your salt with.

What you will need:

2 cups of salt (kosher or sea salt)

2 cups of wood chips (soaked in water for an hour or so)

1 disposable aluminum pan

How to smoke salt:

Set up your grill for indirect grilling.  Add the wood chips to the coals.

Spread the salt in a thin layer in the aluminum pan and place it on the grate away from the heat source.  Smoke the salt for 1 hour at a medium heat level (350°F).

Let the salt cool, and then transfer it into a jar.

Yes, this can be done on a gas grill as well.  It all depends on the model of gas grill you have.  Some come with a smoker drawer to add the wood chips.

If your model of gas grill does not come with a smoker drawer a smoker box can be purchased for gas grills.

Another way is to pack your wood into some aluminum foil and puncture it with holes placing it over the heat source.

Smoking salt is as simple as that. Try adding it to a variety of different dishes for a unique smoky flavor.

If you would like to try out some commercial examples to see how your home smoked salt stacks up, check out these different varieties >> Smoked Salt

Many are made with different wood to give each a unique flavor.

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