Grilling

Salsa simply means “sauce” in Spanish. These three versions are delicious served with tortilla chips, or as condiments along-side grilled fish, chicken, or pork.

The sweet, complex flavor of balsamic vinegar enhances the smokiness of grilled portobellos and bell peppers in these satisfying meatless “burgers.”

IF YOU’VE GOT THE GRILL ON, nothing is easier than grilling sweet onions and fennel. Tossed with a balsamic dressing, the rich, caramelized flavors make a great side dish for meat, including Grilled New York Steak with Balsamic-Mushroom Ragout (page 136).

NEW YORK STEAK, also known as strip steak or shell steak, is a tender cut that comes alive on the grill. Mushrooms are the natural choice as a side dish, with balsamic vinegar adding a deep, sweet note to the earthy mushrooms.

SO MANY FLAVORFUL CUTS OF PORK ARE AVAILABLE in grocery stores these days that it’s worth looking beyond pork tenderloin and pork chops. Pork blade steaks are long, thin, bone-in steaks cut from the pork shoulder; they’re an unusual cut, but available in most meat departments. Because the steaks can be tough, we created a marinade with a high acid content that breaks down the fibers in the pork, tenderizing the meat. Pork and chutney have a natural affinity, and we particularly like the sweet-hot flavor of Pasta & Co Roasted Tomato Chutney, but feel free to substitute your favorite brand.

COOKING WITH MARMALADE is a great way to add a strong concentration of orange to a dish, and the high sugar content of the marmalade results in beautifully caramelized meat. We prefer to grill these pork chops, but you can pan-fry them as well.

HARISSA IS A FIERY MOROCCAN SPICE BLEND made with chili peppers that appears often in Mediterranean cooking. It comes both dried and as a paste, and when we started selling the spice at Pasta & Co we created this dish to celebrate its vibrant flavor. The trick here is pounding the chicken breasts until they are uniformly thin to let the marinade penetrate, which both flavors and tenderizes the meat.

THIS RECIPE IS AKIN TO A HOMEMADE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN without the hassle. Use the lime marinade below as a base recipe; feel free to add more fresh herbs, other citrus fruit, shallots, or ginger.

THIS IS A NORTHWEST TAKE ON THE CLASSIC SURF AND TURF, but instead of steak I like to include another fish. Halibut and salmon make a great combination because they have complementary flavors, cooking times, and thickness. (If you can get Alaskan halibut, even better.) Grilled on a cedar plank and served with fresh pesto, the fish have flavors that really pop. You can use any untreated cedar board to cook the fish. Cookware stores sell rather thick planks, but some big box hardware stores and large grocery stores sell thinner untreated cedar planks in the barbecue department.

GOOD TO KNOW When pressed to remove excess moisture, extra-firm tofu does a better job of soaking up marinades and holding its shape as it cooks, especially on the grill. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for thirty minutes before grilling.

GOOD TO KNOW Because they contain more fat than leaner breast meat, chicken thighs are good candidates for grilling: They stay tender and juicy after cooking.

FLAVOR BOOSTER A ginger-and-lime yogurt marinade spiked with chopped jalapeños adds tang and a little heat to skinless chicken thighs. Peach chutney makes a tart-sweet, low-fat accompaniment. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for thirty minutes before grilling.

GOOD TO KNOW Thinly pounded chicken breasts, known as paillards in French cuisine, cook through in just a couple of minutes—perfect for a quick, low-calorie midweek dinner.

SECRET INGREDIENT A tangy marinade sweetened with apple juice instead of sugar does double-duty when reduced to a sauce for grilled steak. In addition to Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and hot sauce, the marinade is further enlivened by an optional splash of whiskey.

GOOD TO KNOW When only a grilled steak will do, choose a leaner cut like top blade over more marbled porterhouse or rib-eye. Blade steaks have a rich flavor and are very tender; tri tip, sirloin, and strip steaks also take well to grilling without marinating. If only larger steaks are available, purchase fewer and cut them into six-ounce servings, for portion control.

GOOD TO KNOW Kebabs are a good way to incorporate vegetables into from-the-grill dinners. They also allow you to use a small amount of a high-fat food, such as the chorizo in the pork kebabs, to maximum effect. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for thirty minutes before grilling.

GOOD TO KNOW Kebabs are a good way to incorporate vegetables into from-the-grill dinners. They also allow you to use a small amount of a high-fat food, such as the chorizo in the pork kebabs, to maximum effect. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for thirty minutes before grilling.

GOOD TO KNOW Kebabs are a good way to incorporate vegetables into from-the-grill dinners. They also allow you to use a small amount of a high-fat food, such as the chorizo in the pork kebabs, to maximum effect. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for thirty minutes before grilling.

WHY IT’S LIGHT For a shore dinner you can make anywhere, wrap shrimp, cod, pototoes, and corn in “hobo packs” and cook them on the grill. The food steams inside, with only a half tablespoon butter per serving.

GOOD TO KNOW A favorite sandwich, redux: Instead of battering and deep-frying, fish fillets are cooked on the grill, with a mere brush of oil. Top with a tangy slaw and serve on toasted bread, and you won’t miss the original in the least.