This is that time of the year when the grill gets a workout. The weather in most parts of the U.S. is great and the outdoor grill beckons.
Some of us use the grill year-round because it’s easy and fast—and because it doesn’t get the kitchen all messed up, hot and smelly. And the grill is great for more things than just charring meat. You can literally do the whole meal on the grill.
One of our favorites is pork loin chops with a glaze of mayo and Beaver Sweet-hot Mustard. It’s an incredible combination and one I’ve written about before. http://www.cheap-bastid-cooks.com/grilled-loin-chops-with-mustard-glaze/
And increasingly we like more and more grilled vegetables. So last night that was the whole meal—grilled loin chops and grilled vegetables.
So today, it’s all about the simplest part of this meal—grilled tomatoes. If you’ve never grilled tomatoes, let me just tell you that they’re a treat. It’s super simple, quick and cheap.
You get an explosion of flavor. The sugars release. The acid tweeks your tongue. That hint of char gives a smokiness.
Recipe: Amazing Grilled Tomatoes
Summary: It’s grilling season. Here’s an incredibly easy, cheap and tasty grilled side dish–grilled tomatoes!
Ingredients
- 1 Roma tomato per person
- Canola or Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Granulated garlic
Instructions
- Get out your cutting board and chef’s knife.
- Slice each tomato in half lengthwise.
- Rub a few drops of oil on the cut surface of each tomato half.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic on top of the oil.
- Put tomatoes directly on hot grill cut side down for 2-3 minutes.
- Turn to skin side down for another 2-3 minutes.
- (Note: This is something you can do after the meat is cooked and while it is resting.)
Preparation time: 2 minute(s)
Cooking time: 6 minute(s)
My rating 5 stars: ★★★★★ 1 review(s)
So, how easy is that? Sometimes tomatoes bought at the grocery store can be a bit bland because they’re harvested too soon. Grilling them releases the flavors hiding inside. Add this to your “repertoire”. It’s cheap. It’s tasty. It’s easy. It’s fast. And it’s healthy.
Want a little more flavor? Sprinkle some feta cheese or parmesan cheese on top when you flip the tomatoes. It’ll add another little party for your tastebuds to enjoy.
The Cheap Bastid Test: There’s 2 of us so I used 2 tomatoes. Right now tomatoes are $.77 a lb. and so I spent about a quarter on the tomatoes. How much did I spend on oil and seasoning? A couple of cents maybe? Let’s just say that these cost about $.15 apiece. That’s good, cheap eating.
That’s the Cheap Bastid Way: Eat Good. Eat Cheap. Be Grateful!
I am going to try this once I get back to Canada..
Yum
The best fried green tomato recipe I’ve tried was … going from memory here … add about a tbsp of seasoning salt and a little cayenne pepper to about a cup of white flour, cut the tomatoes 1/2 inch thick, dip the tomato slices in canned milk then dredge in the flour/seasoning salt mixture, and deep fry until golden brown. Mmm mm good.
These look yummy. So glad to see you posting again!
Mmmmm! I love grilled tomatoes! I tried it once a few weeks ago, along with peppers and onions, on skewers with my meat. I also do garlic, but that needs to be skewered separately because it needs more cooking and a good bit of oil. Chunked tomatoes on a skewer with beef, yuuum yuuum!
We grill all year and it had never occurred to me to grill my tomatoes! I know this will make my BLT’s more amazing, and my salads…
Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention. Can’t wait to get my tomatoes tomorrow!