Italian Grill Menu's

The Italian Grill

Grilling has been an important method of food preparation in Italy since Neolithic times, but has become increasingly popular in our modern world. Grilling is one of the most basic cooking techniques we use, and yet it yields significant advantages to other methods of food preparation. It is fast, extremely versatile, and lends itself perfectly to Italian cuisine, which is well known for its use of fresh ingredients and simple methods of food preparation. It also is well suited to those who are interested in maintaining a low-fat diet, as very little extra fat is used when grilling. The term alla griglia refers to food that is grilled over charcoal or wood. Grigliata refers to a platter of grilled foods such as meats, seafood or vegetables, and generally consists of three or four different items.

The Italian grill is simplicity at it’s best, highlighting the natural freshness of food from meat and seafood to vegetables. Meats and seafood develop a crusty, golden, smoky flavored exterior while the interior remains moist and tender. Vegetables are brought to new heights on the grill, which intensifies their flavor through by caramelizing their natural sugars. Even fruits take on a completely different taste after grilling them a rich golden brown on the outside, while leaving a juicy, sweet interior.

Summer generally brings people outdoors to dine al fresco, to escape the heat of the kitchen and enjoy the fresh air. By using the grill, one can quickly create tasty complete meals that lend themselves perfectly to entertaining, or to an informal family get together at the end of a busy day. There are a multitude of different Italian dishes that can be cooked on the grill and together can create a complete menu from appetizer to dessert.

One of my favorite dishes to start my meals with in the summer is my Eggplant Crostini. Crusty Italian bread slices are grilled, drizzled with good olive oil, topped with slices of grilled eggplant slices and fresh mozzarella cheese and finally ripe tomatoes. The crostini are returned briefly to the grill to melt the cheese and are served warm. Another tasty starter was created after tasting a roasted pepper soup in Florence. My version consists of peppers cooked on the grill, which adds a touch of smoky intensity to the dish that is irresistible. Try my Grilled Yellow And Orange Pepper Soup served just warm, garnished with either a simple drizzle of good olive oil, garlic croutons, or grilled shrimp.

When one thinks of grilled food, probably pasta does not quickly come to mind. I have a few pasta recipes that make use of seasonal grilled vegetables that are very tasty and yet easy to prepare. My Grilled Vegetable Pasta has become a family favorite, and takes advantage of fresh seasonal vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. Another more intriguing dish is my Grilled Figs And Prosciutto Pasta. The smoky, salty flavor of the crispy prosciutto contrasts beautifully with the sweet figs.

Italian main courses are numerous, and can consist of almost any type of meat, seafood or vegetables. One dish I often serve to guests is my Seafood Skewers, which I serve with a tasty lemon butter sauce. Another attractive seafood dish to grill is my Salmon With Green Sauce. This recipe is as attractive as it is tasty! If you prefer meat and poultry to seafood, why not consider cooking a steak Tuscan style like I do in my Tagliata con Rucola? Tender slices of steak are served atop a bed of peppery arugula, and drizzled with good quality olive oil. Another easy to prepare dish for the grill are kabobs or skewers of mixed vegetables and meats. One I often make is my Marinated Pork And Mushroom recipe, which is marinated in a balsalmic vinegar olive oil mixture for several hours before grilling.

You can even serve grilled vegetable side dishes to complete the meal such as my Grilled Red Potato Salad or Italian Corn On The Grill recipes. Almost any vegetable tastes better on the grill!

To complete your meal, and to keep things simple, leave the grill fired up and cook some fruit over the hot coals. Many fruits are well suited to grilling, and some of my favorites are bananas, nectarines, peaches and pineapples. Just brush on some melted butter, grill until tender, and coat lightly with a tasty liqueur the last few moments on the grill. Serve it with a scoop of ice cream and a sprinkle of toasted nuts as I do my Grilled Pineapple Dessert, and you will have created a dessert that your family will rave over.

I hope I have given you a few new ideas for creating tasty grilled Italian dishes, and will inspire you to come up with a few of your own ideas.

Buon Appetito!
By Deborah Mele
Italian Food Forever.com