Grilled Vegetable Skewers

These colorful and flavorful grilled vegetable skewers are a fantastic and easy side dish or main course for Lola's Fourth of July barbecue.

Yields: 4-6 skewers 

Prep time: 20 minutes 

Marinate time: 30 minutes 

Cook time: 10-15 minutes

Equipment:

• Large bowl

• Measuring cups

• Measuring spoons

• Knife

• Cutting board

• Whisk

• Metal or wooden skewers (if wooden, soak in water for 30 minutes before use)

• Grill or grill pan

• Tongs

• Basting brush (optional)

Ingredients:

For the Vegetable Skewers:

• 1 medium zucchini, cut into 1-inch thick half-moons

• 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 small red onion, cut into 1-inch wedges

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes

• 1 ear of corn, cut into 1-inch thick rounds (optional)

For the Marinade:

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

Preparing the Vegetables:

Step 12.) Using a knife and cutting board, chop the zucchini, bell peppers, red onion, and corn (if using) into approximately 1-inch pieces suitable for threading onto skewers.

Step 13.) In a large bowl, combine the cut zucchini, bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and corn rounds.

Marinating the Vegetables:

Step 14.) In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper with a whisk to create the marinade.

Step 15.) Pour the marinade over the vegetables in the large bowl. Toss with a mixing spoon or your hands until all the vegetables are evenly coated.

Step 16.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the vegetables marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Assembling and Grilling the Skewers:

Step 17.) If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.

Step 18.) Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.

Step 19.) Thread the marinated vegetables alternately onto the metal or soaked wooden skewers. Don't pack them too tightly, as this will prevent even cooking.

Step 20.) Place the vegetable skewers on the hot grill. Cook for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally with tongs, until the vegetables are tender-crisp and have nice grill marks. You can optionally baste them with any remaining marinade while grilling (do not baste during the last 5 minutes of cooking).

Serving:

Step 21.) Remove the skewers from the grill and serve immediately.

Tips for Success:

• Cut vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure they cook evenly.

• Don't overcrowd the grill when cooking the skewers.

• For easy cleanup and to prevent sticking, you can lightly oil the grill grates before placing the skewers on them.