Wed 4 Sep 2019
Flank steak pinwheels- with asparagus as the lead, all ingredients are mixed with the flank steak wrapped and tied for grilling.
Great recipe idea with the use of Ember cooked Asparagus and Flank Steak. Click To Tweet
Wed 21 Aug 2019
Wood flavoured grilled Corn on the Cob Topped with Fresh Parsley
Our culinary team has produced a two-part video series outlining how we Wood flavoured grilled Corn on the grill! It is so easy to do, especially this time of year when the corn harvest is abundant! Add this as a great side to your dinner, make a wood-fired salsa with the corn, freeze the corn for grilling enjoyment in the middle of the winter season. Unless you are like us and we ate the full dozen just after the grilling and pictures.
Yes, you can get corn all year by purchasing in the freezer section of your local grocer. Seriously though. Who wants frozen when by waiting nearly 10 months on the east coast you can have fabulous fresh corn? There is a taste difference between fresh and frozen!
Corn is one of those vegetables that just begs to be put on the grill. There are many techniques but I prefer to remove the husks and silks, and grill my corn on the cob with wood chunks on the grill’s heat shields. In answer to the question about soaking the wood in water first – no, I do not do this step as I want my corn kernels to really crackle on the grill. Just see our posting on how to add wood chunks to the LP grill (http://www.smokinlicious.com/blog/how-to-turn-your-lpgas-grill-into-a-smoker/).
SmokinLicious® double filet wood chunks are the perfect size for flavoring as well as fit on most grills. From start to finish, you can easily do a couple dozen ears of corn in about an hour. With this technique, I just need 4-5 wood chunks on one of the heat shields. That will provide enough smoke vapor to collect in the grill’s cooking area to ensure every ear is equally charred and flavored. Next, simply monitor for the need to turn the corn with tongs to produce an even char. Keep in mind, just like popcorn kernels, you will hear some of the raw corn kernels heat up and pop/crackle while cooking. This makes for the sweetest end to your cooking tasks!
Once I near the end of the corn’s cooking, I snip some fresh herbs from the garden like mint, parsley, and even lavender. I melt butter and add the chopped herbs to the pot. I then brush the nearly cooked corn with this aromatic mix and seal in all the great flavors – smoky, sweet, buttery – just perfect.
After I’ve consumed some of my masterpiece, I remove the kernels from the cob to a large bowl using a knife. This corn will be split into freezer bags and stored for winter recipe cooking that will allow me to bring back the taste of summer.
Need inspiration on what to do with all that corn? Think Cowboy Salsa, Corn Succotash, Smoky Cornbread, Corn Cakes, Corn-Potato Chowder, Corn Pudding, Corn Grits, and so much more. I bet you want to hit the corn stand now! Get going!
Did we inspire you? We’d love to see your photos of your grilled corn and corn recipes. Leave a comment and subscribe. Keep following us as we bring you innovative tips, techniques, and recipes on working with wood for cooking, grilling & smoking.
BON BAR B Q
… that char-grilled corn on the cob has many advantages of adding smoky flavor to your summer and early fall food enjoyment. Give this simple smoked corn salsa a try. Slice off the charred kernels of four ears of corn, dice a Spanish onion and a grilled sweet pepper. Combine the mixture with an 1/8 cup of balsamic vinegar, a teaspoon of olive oil, dash of worcestershire sauce, juice of a lime and a few shots of hot sauce. It’s that easy and so good!
For more reading related to Wood Flavoured Grilled Corn, try these recipes
Dr. Smoke- Wood flavoured grilled fresh Corn on the cob is a treat! Using our best wood chunks for smoking-add this to your smoky corn on the cob recipes!
Wed 7 Aug 2019
OUR CROSTINI WITH SMOKED ASPARAGUS RECIPE IS YUMMY!
It’s Asparagus season and that means you should get the most out of this sensational vegetable while it’s fresh! Be sure to visit our series on the ember roasting of fresh asparagus (see the previous blog) so you can move on to our fabulous recipes. Our featured recipe in this series is Crostini with Ember Roasted Asparagus, Pimento & Olive Spread, a perfect snack, appetizer, and certainly a spur of the moment food for the pop in visitor. So, here we go!
Wed 24 Jul 2019
Smoking Snow Peas steps featured in this blog.
Let's try smoking Snow Peas! Click To Tweet
One of the most versatile vegetables is now in season and can be used in both hot and cold side dishes and main courses. In this series, we will be roasting our peas using a hot smoking method to bring the great wood-fired flavour.
I’ll be using my Stok Drum Charcoal Grill for this series. As the Stok has its own charcoal basket, I won’t need to prepare any additional lump hardwood charcoal. I am using a direct method of cooking. I place my charcoal in the unit’s charcoal basket leaving my grate insert off for now. Once the coals turn gray, I will lift the charcoal basket and allow the coals to advance into the cooking drum. I then grate insert off as I will use my vegetable pan to go right over the top of the insert area.
Adding Grande Sapore cherry wood chips
While the coals have been firing, I start preparation on the peas. As I am using sugar snap peas for this recipe there is very little preparation that has to be done. I first will remove all the string membrane that is attached to one side of the snap pea. If any stems are left on, I will remove those as well. I then wash the peas in a colander and then allow them to drip dry, shaking my colander occasionally to rid any excess water. If needed, I will pat dry the peas to ensure they are ready for the fire. Then I sprinkle on some Almond oil, sea salt, and fresh pepper to the peas. Now, we’re ready to wood fire!
My coals are hot, the wood chips are smoking, and the peas are ready to be kissed by fire! I place the vegetable pan on the center of the grill and leave my grill cover off. When cooking with wood, know that some temperature fluctuation can occur due to the natural variation in combustion so don’t leave the Peas unattended. Once you see the peas start to char, give them a toss with a spoon to ensure an even char cook.
Placing the peas on the Stok grill pan
Usually, you will see char begin about 4-5 minutes into the cooking cycle. Once that occurs, you will be looking at another couple of minutes before the peas will be ready to come off the grill. Be sure you monitor that you don’t go too far with the smoking process. If the peas begin to shrivel and wrinkle, you went too far. You can remove them and place in an ice bath or run under cold water to stop any additional cooking from taking place.
It’s so hard to explain the aroma that comes from the grill when you wood fire vegetables. Keep in mind, that even when the vegetables are chilled, they will retain their char flavor. Here are some tips to finishing these beautiful smoked sugar snow peas: add some crumbled feta cheese and serve, or a splash of lemon juice and dill, or even a dollop of ricotta cheese that’s been whipped with a bit of cream. You can also check into our next blog on peas where we feature these scrumptious beauties in a Snap Pea and Cucumber Salad, just perfect on a hot summer’s day!
First Turn on the Grill
… that when it comes to the forgotten method of direct ember cooking with wood, there are many great food varieties besides your typical meats, poultry and seafoods that offer awesome flavor. This blog demonstrates how snow peas are one of many tasty garden variety veggies that will tickle your pallet with a great smoky wood-fired taste. There are many more foods for you to enjoy with this technique! Go ahead, experiment with your favorite vegetables or fruits and treat yourself to a “world of flavor” possibilities!
Bon-Bar-B-Q!
Dr. Smoke- You’re in store for a real flavor treat by smoking snow peas!
For more reading on Smoking Snow Peas, try these recipes
Wed 8 May 2019
RADISH SALAD WITH A WOOD-FIRED FLARE- it will totally change the taste. Try some in a refreshing salad for extra flavor
RADISH SALAD WITH A WOOD-FIRED FLARE- The peak season for radishes is April thru July so I’m taking advantage of this great seasonal vegetable and putting them on the gas grill with some wood chunks to smoke up the flavors. I’ll first provide you my technique for bringing a wood flavor to these red beauties on a traditional gas grill, then I’ll use the finished product in a smoked radish and cannellini bean salad that is perfect as a side dish or for those vegetarians, add some non-animal protein to be a main dish favorite. Let’s get started!
Wed 24 Apr 2019
The first step for ember roasting fresh asparagus on a Hibachi!
It’s Asparagus season and that means you should get the most out of this sensational vegetable while it’s fresh! Learn how easy it is to ember roast this thick skinned vegetable to bring out the fantastic flavor of this vegetable as a side dish, or used as an ingredient in other recipes like a refreshing dip, soup, or stuffing for meat or fish.
Fri 7 Dec 2018
Wood grilled Romaine lettuce- Scrumptious!
It’s time to bring your vegetables into grilling season! Nothing beats the smell of fresh vegetables roasting over wood even on an LP/gas grill. Any time of the year works fine for this technique to get a great char wood flavor in your seasonal or store-bought fresh vegetables.
All you’ll need for this easy cooking experience is an LP or gas grill – any brand or size will do, double filet wood chunks from SmokinLicious®, and a head or two of fresh Romaine lettuce!
Thu 25 Oct 2018
Our winter squash sliced and seasoned with Cumin and ready for the grill!
Full of color, flavor and packed with nutrients, winter squash makes for exceptional seasonal dishes, whether soups, casseroles, or desserts. Harvested in the approaching Fall, they are available all winter long due to their firm shells. With varieties such as sugar pumpkins, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, buttercup, and red kuri, sweetness level is always present.
Naturally low in fat and calories, yet rich in vitamins A, B6, C, and E, you can’t go wrong with any variety you select.
Today, I’ve elected to make cumin squash on the grill using confetti squash, so called due to the beautiful multi-skin coloring. Note, you may substitute any rounded winter squash available near you for this recipe.
Thu 30 Aug 2018
Try our pan cook zucchini on the gas grill with wood chunks for a flavoring twist
It seems like when August rolls around, people start looking for something new to do with all that zucchini that you either have in your own garden or found at the fresh market. I’ve got a one pan dish that is easy to construct with the best part being you can do the entire recipe on your LP/Gas grill.
Grab your prized zucchini and get to the grill and I’ll show you how easy this technique and recipe are for a great meal.
Thu 7 Jun 2018
Our fire Roasted Pepper make the perfect Salad with these white beans!
Fire roasted peppers by ember cooking on hot coals in our open pit or charring peppers on the grill for this roasted peppers salad. Grilled peppers make the perfect fire roasted pepper salad and should be a star in your salad recipes under healthy foods! The fresh parsley, arugula, added to the white beans are refreshing! You must try this!
If you are a follower or subscriber of ours, then you’ve likely seen our recommendations for charring peppers on the hot coals using an open pit, fireplace, charcoal grill or even gas grill. It’s so easy yet gives such a flavorful outcome to use in all types of recipes.
I’m giving you a salad recipe that is hearty enough to be a salad entrée or the perfect side for your favorite protein.
