Italians love cooking outdoors just as much as anyone and have a host of traditional recipes for the “grigliata” (‘grill-out’ in Italian). All of the world’s great cooking traditions began with FIRE. It doesn’t matter if one thinks that Italian cooking began with curing succulent sausages, mouth-watering prosciutto or delectable salami and other delicious, cured meats . . . nor does it matter if one believes that Italian cuisine is only about boiling freshly made pasta on a stove alongside slow-simmering sauces for dressing hand-made pasta.
Italian cooking, as ancient as it is, began with fire.
Grilling over fire is the oldest methods of cooking in the world—and even one of the healthiest. We, Americans love all things related to grilling out and barbecues, but Italians, especially in the lush spring and summer months, enjoy scrumptious grilled foods; a summer grigliata (barbecue) among friends and family, have been a tradition in the countryside of Italy.
As in all recipes, Italians are purists who prepare unadorned grilled delicacies with extraordinary robust flavor accomplished by using the simplest of methods: Food grilled in Italy is enhanced by the use of herbs placed on or under the food being grilled, a squeeze of lemon juice, a bit of freshly cracked salt and pepper, and the smoky fire. No heavy sauces are ever used in Italian grilled recipes. Meats and fish are often marinated in olive oil, garlic and herb based mixtures before setting on the grill in Italy.
In my parents’ Italian restaurant, the main draw for hungry patrons was either food from the grill or pizza from the wood-fired ovens. True, customers could never get enough of my mother’s Bolognese sauced pasta. But truth be told, it was the grill that drew beef-loving enthusiasts to our ristorante! My father was the town’s unrivaled grillmaster. Grilling was intuitive to him, I guess. A technique that I’ve never been able to master.
Therefore, I completely leave grilling to my husband . . . yet I develop the recipes. A perfect pair that simply works, deliciously!
Who doesn’t just love to grill food and to be outdoors in the fresh air? We’re so fortunate in the Carolinas because we can grill outside year-round without freezing our tushies off. We grill so many different types of recipes, from appetizers to desserts. So in this post, I’ve put together a fantastic group of truly, truly tried and true recipes that will make your taste buds sing and make your tummies happy!
Starting out with appetizers, this recipe is not only delicious, but it’s also healthy for us. It doesn’t fill you up so you aren’t hungry for your entrée or dessert. I love this recipe that has a few adaptations from “Cooking Light” magazine:
Italians also enjoy fish spiedini (spiedini di mare), such as the Swordfish spiedini recipe above. The most preferred fish to grill include used shrimp, scallops, tuna, swordfish, cuttlefish or calamari. Before grilling, the fish is usually marinated or brushed with olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, and garlic.
If you want to serve something different at your next grilling event, why not consider grilling Italian-style with an assortment of spiedini.
Italians prefer simple fruit for dessert, especially during warmer weather and when eating al fresco. Grilled fruit is wonderful and provides a light, sweet, and healthier end to your outdoor feast. Grilling caramelizes fruits’ natural sugars, thus creating a more concentrated flavor! The warm, soft texture of grilled fruit is particularly gratifying without being overly sweet or heavy. Peaches, pears, and apples, in particular, hold their shape nicely for grilling.
Grilling is associated with relaxation and time spent outdoors, often with friends and family. No matter what you choose to grill, keep your grilling feast leisurely, unhurried, and relaxed under summer’s open sky. Those who live in colder areas eagerly await this traditional summer pastime to enjoy delicious grilled pleasures. And those of us in warmer climates are blessed to enjoy grilling Italian-style, all year round.
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Being vegan, I don’t even own a grill. My kids do and they would love some of these recipes. Thanks for sharing them and I’ll be passing them to my kids..
Wow, there are so many great recipes here! I am starving now 🙂 With grilling season just starting, I would love to try some of these because everything tastes better with a touch of Italian to it 🙂 I never ate anything my italian family has made that I didn’t like!
I get weak at the knees just thinking of a pizza from wood-fired ovens. That being said all of these grilled foods look delicious. Thanks for some amazing recipes.
Grilling season just started here, we grill every chance we get, and there are so many recipes here to try! They all look delicious, Roz! But a good one to start with is Big Mama! Woo hoo, what a burger! It’s the Big Kahuna for sure! Thanks for the recipes.
I loved all the different types of things that are grilled in this post. The one that stuck out to me was the spiedini. I love the idea of using rosemary to skewer the meat and veggies and also the fact that bacon was put on there. I want to try that this summer! Kebabs are so colorful and fun. Last year I tried grilling pizza and really want to do that again. We are fortunate also to be able to grill pretty much year round. I don’t think I will be grilling this Saturday, though. It is supposed to be 117 degrees! 🙁 Thanks for the great grilling recipes, Roz!
Well I know first hand that the grilled swordfish with the lemon cream sauce is a winner. I want to try some of those other delicious grilled recipes next.
Roz, this is a beautiful post. You are right good things happen when you fire up the grill! The grilled caesar is one of my favorites. I have never grilled the romaine but I have enjoyed it in a local restaurant with a fried egg on top. It is divine!
Hope you are getting ready to plant your garden and enjoy summer.
Oh, my gosh, Roz, what a roundup!!! I’m loving all these amazing recipes, plus the stories from your parents’ restaurants bring back such memories. My dad would always let me know when Kelly waited on his at the Safari. He was quite fond of her and of course the great food! Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. xo
We do tend to think of grilling as being an American tradition but I think most countries have their grilled specialities. You and your husband make a good team when it comes to the grilled meals you have prepared.
Being vegan, I don’t even own a grill. My kids do and they would love some of these recipes. Thanks for sharing them and I’ll be passing them to my kids..
Wow, there are so many great recipes here! I am starving now 🙂 With grilling season just starting, I would love to try some of these because everything tastes better with a touch of Italian to it 🙂 I never ate anything my italian family has made that I didn’t like!
I get weak at the knees just thinking of a pizza from wood-fired ovens. That being said all of these grilled foods look delicious. Thanks for some amazing recipes.
Grilling season just started here, we grill every chance we get, and there are so many recipes here to try! They all look delicious, Roz! But a good one to start with is Big Mama! Woo hoo, what a burger! It’s the Big Kahuna for sure! Thanks for the recipes.
I loved all the different types of things that are grilled in this post. The one that stuck out to me was the spiedini. I love the idea of using rosemary to skewer the meat and veggies and also the fact that bacon was put on there. I want to try that this summer! Kebabs are so colorful and fun. Last year I tried grilling pizza and really want to do that again. We are fortunate also to be able to grill pretty much year round. I don’t think I will be grilling this Saturday, though. It is supposed to be 117 degrees! 🙁 Thanks for the great grilling recipes, Roz!
Well I know first hand that the grilled swordfish with the lemon cream sauce is a winner. I want to try some of those other delicious grilled recipes next.
Roz, this is a beautiful post. You are right good things happen when you fire up the grill! The grilled caesar is one of my favorites. I have never grilled the romaine but I have enjoyed it in a local restaurant with a fried egg on top. It is divine!
Hope you are getting ready to plant your garden and enjoy summer.
Always,
Velva
So many great ideas and they all look fantastic! We just started grilling this weekend and I’m looking forward to lots more so appreciate the ideas.
Great collection of recipes!!!! And we have all summer to test them out. 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Oh, my gosh, Roz, what a roundup!!! I’m loving all these amazing recipes, plus the stories from your parents’ restaurants bring back such memories. My dad would always let me know when Kelly waited on his at the Safari. He was quite fond of her and of course the great food! Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. xo
One looks more mouthwatering than the other! Those burgers look like they are waiting for me.
What a great collection! I am a huge fan of all things grilled!
Great looking dishes Roz
Dear Roz, All of these dishes look soooooooo good!! I would love them all.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. xo Catherine
We do tend to think of grilling as being an American tradition but I think most countries have their grilled specialities. You and your husband make a good team when it comes to the grilled meals you have prepared.
I’d love to eat that grilled caesar salad right now! It looks amazing.