You Can Grill What? 9 Foods You Didn't Know You Could Grill

Today, it's officially SUMMERTIME - The season where swimsuits are appropriate outfits and meals come hot off the charcoal grill. This grilling season, try something new and branch outside of burgers and bratwurst. In the mood for cake? Throw it on the grill. Want some watermelon? Yup, you can grill that, too. Soon you will see that your grill is as versatile during the summer as your favorite flip-flops.

Here are nine foods you never knew you could grill:

Cheese 

Throwing cheese on the grill enhances the richness of flavor and creates a chewy, melted texture. Cheeses that come in thicker slices like halloumi or aged provolone work best.  Drizzle the cheese with olive oil and grill it over medium heat until you begin to see grill marks. Or, make an epic grilled cheese sandwich by throwing your sandwich over the coals instead of in a frying pan.

Romaine Lettuce

These greens are firm and crunchy enough to take some heat, and grilling them creates a smoky flavor. Cut a head of romaine lettuce in half and add olive oil, salt, and pepper to the cut sides. Throw on the grill face down on medium-high heat for one to two minutes. Sprinkle parmesan over the lettuce like this recipe from Grillin Fools or pour red wine vinegar for a simple salad.

Cake

Grilling a cake gives it a delicious caramelized crust. Thicker cakes like angel food cake or pound cake work best. Butter both sides of your cake slice, and then grill it over medium heat for about two minutes, like this Grilled Lemon Pound Cake from Food & Wine.

Watermelon

Give this summertime fruit an unexpected hint of savory with a little smoke and salt. Brush thick slices with olive oil, and then grill them for about five minutes on each side until caramelized. Serve as a salad with feta, black olives and a berry-based vinaigrette, as a tropical fruit salad, or as an added layer on your burger!

Sweet Potatoes

First, cut the sweet potato into slices, and then coat the entire sweet potato in butter and place over medium-high heat for about 40 minutes to an hour.  Add a simple spice rub with paprika, cumin and cinnamon to complement like this recipe from Whole Foods.

Garlic Bread

Start your garlic bread off in the oven for about five minutes, and then throw it on the grill! The smoky flavor will compliment the garlic. Give this Bobby Flay recipe a try next time you invite friends over for a cookout.

Peaches

It's popular to grill pineapple, but did you know you can also grill peaches? These sweet, tender fruit compliment pork and chicken, and can be drizzled with honey or blue cheese.

Bacon 

Cut pancetta or slab bacon into chunks, and then thread the chunks onto a skewer. Grill them over medium heat until they're crispy. For a sweet compliment to the pork, add peaches or pineapple like in this recipe for Pancetta and Pineapple skewers.

Chocolate

Instead of bringing your Crockpot outside, throw a heat resistant bowl full of chocolate on the grill. Instant (and easily accessible) fondue! Or, put your chocolate in a banana peel and place it directly in the grill. You'll melt the chocolate and give it a subtle banana taste.