6 Great Recipes for the Last Grills of Summer
Labor Day weekend is here, which means we're all gearing up to say farewell to summer. While warmer weather will continue and summer will technically go on for a few more weeks, Labor Day is considered the perfect opportunity to celebrate summer, and your last chance to go out with a bang.If there's one thing that signifies summer cooking, it's the grill, so this weekend we'll be firing up ours and taking full advantage of it, grilling everything from breakfast to dessert.
When considering what to grill this holiday weekend, think about everything that you want your Labor Day to be. You want it to be relaxing; it's a three-day weekend and the last of the summer, so you should stretch out your legs and enjoy yourself, and that goes for your cooking, too. You want it to be fun, because it's a celebration, right? So anything you're grilling this weekend should be new and intriguing, and should excite the mouths you're feeding, as well. Last but not least, it should be delicious; no matter what activities you're participating in or what you're grilling up, everything should be the most fruitful it can possibly be.
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We're here to help you accomplish all of this with six easy, exciting, and delicious recipes. Entrées like cedar-grilled steak, rosemary-lime salmon kebabs, and garlic-chile swordfish are perfect to serve this Labor Day, each flavored and cooked in their own unique way. And for sides, a grilled asparagus bundle with an orange vinaigrette or grilled corn on the cob with creamy feta butter will be sure not to disappoint. Even for those who are looking to enjoy something on the lighter side, a grilled beef salad gets a kick of flavor from Southwestern seasonings.
Labor Day is here, so it's time for you to get your last grills in. Check out these six recipes and here's to another great summer.
Southwest Grilled Beef Salad Recipe
Marinate the skirt steak for several hours or overnight before grilling. Serve with your favorite dressing or a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a drizzle of olive oil.
Click here to see the Southwest Grilled Beef Salad Recipe
Cedar-Grilled Flat Iron Steaks with Coffee Rub Recipe
A sweet, spicy coffee rub makes a delicious complement to steaks.
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons finely ground espresso
2 teaspoons chile powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 1/2 pounds flat iron steaks, each 1 1/4 pounds each
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Take 1 very large or 2 or more smaller cedar planks for grilling and soak them in water at least 3 hours prior to grilling.
Combine the sugar, coffee, chile powder, cayenne, and salt. Cut the steak to fit on cedar planks if necessary. Brush the steak with 2 teaspoons of oil, sprinkle all over with coffee rub, and press to adhere. Set aside.
Prepare a grill for high-heat cooking. When very hot, bank the coals on 1 side of the grill, leaving one side free of coals. If using a gas grill, turn the burner off on 1 side. Have a spray bottle filled with water handy. Heat cedar planks on cool side of grill for 3 minutes and remove from grill, brush 1 side lightly with oil and set aside.
Grill steaks on the hot side of the grill until just seared, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the steaks to oiled sides of planks and place planks near (but not over, if possible) hot zone on grill. Close the grill, cover, and cook until the steaks reach desired doneness, 8 to 12 minutes for medium-rare. Spray edges of planks with water if they catch fire. Remove planks from grill and rest the steaks on planks 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipe Details
Servings: 6
Total time: 30 minutes, plus 3 hours prep
Cuisine: American
Special Designations: Dairy-free
Corn on the Cob with Feta and Herbs Recipe
Feta and fresh herbs mixed into butter make a fantastic topping for summer corn on the cob.
Click here to see the Corn on the Cob with Feta and Herbs Recipe
Grilled Asparagus Bundles with Dijon-Orange Vinaigrette Recipe
An elegant yet simple way to dress up asparagus. Grilled spears are tied together with chives and topped with a flavorful orange vinaigrette.
Click here to see the Grilled Asparagus Bundles with Dijon-Orange Vinaigrette Recipe
Grilled Chile-Garlic Swordfish Recipe
Big flavor from just a few simple ingredients. Grilling brings out the sweetness of bok choy, making it a terrific match for meaty swordfish steaks.
Click here to see the Grilled Chile-Garlic Swordfish Recipe
Rosemary-Lime Wild Alaska Salmon Kebabs Recipe
These light kabobs are a perfect complement for summer salads or on top of a bed of couscous or quinoa pilaf.
Click here to see the Rosemary-Lime Wild Alaska Salmon Kebabs Recipe
-Anne Dolce, The Daily Meal
