My personal forte is grilling/smoking meats and I always struggle to come up with good sides for my tailgates and game-day parties. Any suggestions on your favorite things to accompany your grilled masterpieces?
Cold Beer and Moonshine
Potato salad Baked beans
Grilled Asparagus and potatoes
more meat
Well, I have a lot of ideas, but trying to stick to something easy for tailgating and grilling. Corn on the cob is classic...I don’t like to eat things heated next to aluminum foil, so shuck, clean, and then take some soft butter and cover pretty good. Now, wrap each ear individually in parchment paper (publix) and then aluminum foil. Pack in cooler to grill and enjoy. Take the stickers separately so you can eat it without a roll of paper towels. We love to just grill veggies in marinade. We’ve done bell peppers, eggplant, squash, Vidalias, campari tomatoes whole (they need less time or they melt on you), and mushrooms. We do skewers out of those. Meat obviously helps the flavor is you put some chunks on it. Button mushrooms by themselves are great. Wash ahead and throw on the grill with a little marinade of your choice. We also grill asparagus and it does great. Usually a little olive oil on it with salt and pepper. You can top the mushrooms or asparagus with a little cheese if you want. It works. Take a pineapple. Skin and slice at the game. Grill it with a little bit of honey and cinamon marinade. We have even tried the pineapple with just cheese on it at the end, makes sort of a hawaiian pizza effect. I have wondered what ham and cheese might do for grilled pineapple. You could also be lazy and use canned slices rather than all the work. Happy tailgating!
@dawgnms said: Cold Beer and Moonshine
I prefer tea with my shine.
Hey, one more great tip: if you’ve never heard of Honey Crisp apples, do yourself a favor and go buy some. One Honey Crisp and you won’t want a Red Delicious ever again. Wash and take to the game. You could slice them and dip them in caramel or powdered sugar. They are great by themselves. I’d bet a grilling Jedi could put slices with cinamon on the grill and produce a masterpiece, but I haven’t tried that.
@WCDawg said: @dawgnms said: Cold Beer and Moonshine I prefer tea with my shine.
@WCDawg said:
Beer while cooking and tasting Shine while eating and after
Smoked baked beans Potato salad Finely chopped Cole slaw Mac N cheese Greens Beer
Grilled peaches and pineapples are delish! I’ve seen a good recipe by Bobby Flay on the Food Network app. Any grilled veggie is good too!
Starch: Potatoes and onions as I described elsewhere earlier (shortened redux below) Baked potatoe
Veggie-veggie: grilled eggplant (can substitute for starch) wilted bok choy (baby bok choy preferred)/spinach, green beans steamed or grilled asparagus - no recipe except drizzle on oil to keep color; serve with lemon potato salad - no recipe but I know what I like
Potatoes and onions Slice potatoes (skin on) and onions drizzle with olive oil sprinkle with seasoning salt (Cavender's Greek) sprinkle oregano optional spinkle with Italian herbs toss and microwave covered or in covered pot on grill (steam helps) until onions and potatoes are done (or in tin foil on coals if roughing it - can substitute butter for EVOO)
Baked potatoe clean and 'dry' potato coat potato with sesame oil cook per normal (grilled and finish with microwave is one way)
grilled eggplant slice eggplant length-wise sprinkle salt on both sides of each slice wait for juice to form then a while after squeeze gently (salt gets rid of bitterness) coat with olive oil cook over grill (with/without griddle)
wilted bok choy clean/rinse bok choy separate leaves (and rinse) drain place in coverable pan add bit of water to pan drizzle sesame oil onto bok choy add chopped/sliced/chunked garlic Cook over heat covered until leaves are soft/semi-soft (same method for spinach or green beans except use olive oil) serve with lemon juice at table
Bonus: Tzatziki Sauce (Sigh-ZEE-kee)
This is a yogurt - cucumber - dill - garlic sauce
use it on any veggie or potatoes (any of the above), but also fried fish (alternative to tarter sauce) and even steak (as a dipping sauce) Can buy it in tubs at most stores, big box, at least. Can throw that in your cooler Below is recipe that looks reasonable, if you prefer to make your own. (Draining is important)
https://natashaskitchen.com/tzatziki-sauce-recipe/
