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Grilled Zucchini with Onions, Corn, and Cherry Tomatoes

When it’s summer, especially in August, when the zucchini, corn, and tomatoes are at their peak, we love to fire up the grill for this salad any chance we get. This is a great recipe for entertaining because you can make it ahead, which means you have more time to hang out with your guests.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6

Ingredients

3 zucchini, halved lengthwise
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rings
2 ears of fresh corn, shucked
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 garlic clove, minced
1 lemon
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare a hot grill.

    Step 2

    Place the zucchini, onions, and corn on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the salt. Toss the vegetables to ensure that they are well coated.

    Step 3

    Place the vegetables on the hot grill. As they begin to brown, turn them carefully so that they brown fully on all sides but stay intact, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the vegetables from the grill and let cool slightly.

    Step 4

    Cut the grilled corn kernels from the cobs and place in a bowl. Add the cherry tomatoes, the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt, the parsley, and garlic. Squeeze the lemon into the bowl and stir to combine.

    Step 5

    Arrange the grilled zucchini on a serving platter. Cut the onion rings in half and drape them over the zucchini. Spoon the tomato and corn mixture over the zucchini and onions. Finish with a grind of pepper and serve warm. Alternatively, make the dish ahead and serve at room temperature.

  2. GRILLING TIPS

    Step 6

    We like to cut our veggies on the larger side for grilling so they don’t burn quickly. We turn them a few times to keep the insides tender while the outside takes on that ideal smoky char. It’s important to remember that your meat and veggies continue to cook after you’ve pulled them off the grill, so be sure to let the meat rest for 5 minutes before serving and take care to remove the vegetables before they overcook.

Reprinted with permission from The Meatball Shop Cookbook by Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow with Lauren Deen. Copyright © 2011 by Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow; photographs copyright © 2011 by John Kernick. Published by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Daniel Holzman is executive chef at The Meatball Shop. He is an alum of Le Bernadin, San Francisco's Fifth Floor, and Aqua, among other highly acclaimed restaurants. He attended the Culinary Institute of America, where he received a full scholarship from the James Beard Foundation. Michael Chernow runs the front-of-house operations and the beverage program at The Meatball Shop. He has worked extensively in restaurants in New York and Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, where he earned degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management. He and Holzman met as teenagers when they worked together as delivery boys at the New York vegan restaurant Candle Café. Needless to say, the vegan thing didn't really stick. Lauren Deen is the author of the New York Times bestselling Cook Yourself Thin series and Kitchen Playdates. She is an Emmy award—and James Beard award— winning television producer and director. She is currently executive producer of food(ography) on the Cooking Channel.
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