Grilled Vegetable Salad with Goat Cheese
Posted: 07/22/2020
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Tender marinated zucchini, summer squash, mushrooms, and red onions are grilled to smoky perfection, and topped with tangy goat cheese in this delish grilled vegetable salad. Serve it as a salad, a side dish, or a light summer entree.
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: This warm salad is a filling and healthy side dish.
How long it takes: 25 minutes plus time to marinade
Equipment you’ll need: large zip-top bag or bowl, grill basket, tongs, grill
Servings: x
Table of Contents
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Don’t you love the flavor that grilling adds to food? Slightly charred and subtly smoky, the natural flavors of meat, veggies, and even fruit are intensified by the high heat of grilling. The grilled food sort of gets an outdoorsy flavor.
This grilled vegetable salad is a good example. Summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms, and onions aren’t really terribly exciting vegetables but marinate them and put them on the grill to cook and magic happens! These regular vegetables become so flavorful and delicious, you can hardly believe it.
I almost hesitate to call this recipe a salad. I hope you’re not conjuring up crisp lettuce leaves or arugula. This salad consists of grilled vegetables with goat cheese, and can be served warm, room temp, or cold. Serve it as a side dish with grilled meat, or make it a light summer lunch or dinner, with warm bread. Now that I think about it, I guess it would be pretty awesome tossed with arugula and drizzled with a bit of the marinade.
Add this grilled vegetable salad to your grilling repertoire this summer. The vegetables are readily available in the grocery store or farm markets, they’re inexpensive, and this salad is so good for you, too. Low in carbs and calories but packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and all sorts of good stuff. You’re going to love it!
About this Salad
Grilled vegetable salad is easy to make. The recipe details two different methods for grilling the vegetables: in a grill basket or on skewers. Choose the method that works best for you.
The marinade/dressing is basically a red wine vinaigrette with chopped fresh herbs, garlic, red pepper flakes, and enhanced by lemon. Whisk it up and set it aside while you clean and cut up a couple of zucchini, a few summer squash, and a package of mushrooms.
Cooking Tip
This makes a pretty big salad so if you’re cooking for one or two, you may want to cut the recipe in half.
Put everything into a large zip top bag, or a big bowl and mix it with the marinade. Let it marinate at least thirty minutes, or up to three hours. I love that you can do all this ahead and then just grill the salad when you’re ready.
Choose your grilling method, and fire up the grill. Once the vegetables are perfectly done, slide them into a serving bowl, sprinkle with goat cheese, and drizzle with a little of the marinade.
So good!
While you’re at it, grill salmon or chicken, and you have yourself a wonderful meal. Finish with grilled pineapple, ice cream, and bourbon caramel sauce.
FAQs
How long can you marinate vegetables before grilling?
Firm vegetables like summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms, and eggplant can be marinated a few hours or even overnight.
What are examples of vegetables that would be good for grilling?
Most vegetables can be grilled. If they are small, a grill basket is very helpful. Marinating is optional. Some of our favorites are sliced zucchini, potatoes, baby potatoes, and portobello mushrooms (stuffed!).
How do I grill vegetables without a grill?
When the weather is bad or I don’t feel like grilling, I grill on the stove using my cast iron grill pan.
Make It Your Own
- For a shortcut, marinate the salad with store bought balsamic vinaigrette or Italian dressing instead of the homemade marinade.
- Experiment with different veggies. Try bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, Brussels sprouts, eggplant, etc.
- For a vegetarian meal, add canned beans (garbanzo or cannellini), rinsed and drained to the salad.
- For a vegan meal, do the above, and leave off the cheese.
- Change it up with feta or fresh mozzarella for the goat cheese. Or sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Not in the mood for grilling? Roast the vegetables in your oven instead at 425°F for 15-20 minutes or so. Or make these lovely Sautéed Summer Squash and Zucchini Ribbons in a skillet on your stove. Ready in just 15 minutes!
- Add homemade croutons and turn your grilled vegetables into a panzanella salad.
Make-Ahead Ideas
Prep the zucchini, summer squash, and zucchini up to a day ahead. Make the marinade and let the veggies marinate in the fridge until you’re ready to grill.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Grilled vegetable salad is good leftover. Wrap leftovers well and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or enjoy it cold.
More summer salads
Some salads are just meant for summers and picnics, aren’t they? Try:
- Taco salad
- Curried chicken salad
- Grilled ratatouille pasta salad — with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onion, and tomatoes
- Asparagus panzanella salad
- Creamy Southwestern orzo pasta salad
- Bruschetta orzo pasta salad
- Grilled shrimp salad
- Loaded potato salad
- Shrimp pasta salad by Well Plated
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
Tender marinated zucchini, summer squash, mushrooms, and red onions are grilled to smoky perfection, and topped with tangy goat cheese in this delish grilled vegetable salad. Serve it as a salad, a side dish, or a light summer entree.
Ingredients
Marinade:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, more for garnishing
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salad
- 2 zucchini, cut into 1-inch half moons, about 1 lb.
- 3 summer squash, cut into 1-inch half moons, about 2 lbs.
- 8 ounces mushrooms, halved
- 1 large red onion, unpeeled, halved from top to bottom (see note if using grill basket)
- 4 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
Instructions
Grill basket directions:
- Combine garlic, herbs, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, lemon zest, vinegar, and oil in a bowl.
- Place zucchini, squash, and mushrooms in a large zip-top bag and pour marinade over them. Seal bag and marinate for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Heat grill to high (500ºF).
- Peel onion, and cut into thin vertical slices (about ¼ inch). Add onions to a grill basket. Grill for 5 minutes before removing vegetables from marinade (reserve marinade) and adding them to the grill basket .
- Grill for 8-10 minutes, tossing occasionally with tongs, or until zucchini and squash are tender. Carefully transfer vegetables to bowl
- Taste and season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of the marinade if desired. Sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese and serve.
Skewers directions:
- Combine garlic, herbs, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, lemon zest, vinegar, and oil in a bowl.
- Place the zucchini, squash, and mushrooms in a large zip-top bag and pour marinade over them. Seal bag and marinate for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Meanwhile, soak 8-10 wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat grill to high (500ºF). Place onion halves directly on grill and grill for 10-15 minutes or until charred. Place them in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to steam.
- Remove vegetables from marinade (reserve marinade) and place on skewers.
- Grill for 4-5 minutes on each side or until tender.
- Peel onions and slice. Remove vegetables from skewers and toss with onions in a bowl. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of the marinade if desired. Sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese and serve.
Notes
- Experiment with different veggies. Try bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, Brussels sprouts, eggplant, etc.
- For a vegetarian meal, add canned beans (garbanzo or cannellini), rinsed and drained to the salad.
- Change it up with feta, fresh mozzarella, or Parmesan cheese.
- Not in the mood for grilling? Roast the vegetables in your oven instead at 425°F for 15-20 minutes or so.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 211kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 73mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Maria Chamberlain says
Not yet im going shopping tomorrow
I’ll add a sprinkle of crushed peppers i like hot stuff
The veggies are the perfect thing for our so hot summer
Thank you
Rachel Gurk says
I hope you love this salad, you’re right, it’s perfect for summer!
denise says
tasty fun
Rachel Gurk says
For sure! It’s the perfect summer salad!
Sabrina says
a great summer salad, thank you, love the goat cheese
Rachel Gurk says
Thanks Sabrina! It really is perfect for summer!