This summer has brought about a new family tradition. On Friday evenings, we meet a few other neighborhood families at the pool, grill our dinner, and engage in general merriment with the kids. It's something that I very much look forward to all week long. Because I am who I am, I spend most of the week thinking about what we'll grill and eat, what cocktail I'll mix up, and what we'll eat for dessert. Sometimes we go simple - burgers or hotdogs, chips, and watermelon. Sometimes we go REALLY simple and order pizza. And sometimes I get inspired and end up creating one of my favorite dinners of the summer.
Obviously I'm talking about this salad. I planned to use my favorite recipe for grilled shrimp, and serve it alongside a simplified zucchini and corn salad, along with some grilled garlic bread. In a moment of inspiration, I turned it into a grilled shrimp and bread salad. I was so excited and enamored with the final dish that I made it again a few days later.
This was not only a big hit with Joey and me, but it was a huge hit with the kids as well . They were especially obsessed with the grilled shrimp and bread, and couldn't get enough.
I have revamped and remixed my chopped summer veggie salad in several ways, spanning numerous cuisines and seasons, but this may be my favorite yet. When I've made this, I just keep it to the veggies, shrimp, and bread, and leave out the grilled romaine. I certainly think it would be a great addition though! If you're looking for a side for this salad, I'd recommend that you keep it simple - a plate of sliced tomato with salt and pepper is perfection here!
Here's to summer grilling and dinner at the pool!
Herb-Grilled Shrimp
adapted from Ina Garten
- 1 1/2 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, but tails left on
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
Summer Vegetable and Grilled Bread Salad
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for dressing
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- zest of half a lemon
- 2 ears corn, husk and silks removed
- 3 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick planks
- 6-8 slices baguette or other crusty bread (I used a roasted garlic loaf and it was really really good!)
- 2 Tbs chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 2 oz)
Prepare the grill to cook at medium-high heat. Allow to preheat at least 15 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk together the oil, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes.
Brush the zucchini, bread slices, and corn with the oil mixture. Reserve the remaining oil mixture to use for the dressing.
Clean the cooking grate, then place the zucchini, corn, and bread slices on the grill.
For the corn, grill, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until the kernels are lightly charred all over, about 10 minutes total.
For the zucchini, grill it until it is well-browned and tender (but not mushy), about 4 to 5 minutes per side.
For the bread, grill it 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until it is lightly charred.
Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. Add enough oil to the remaining oil-garlic-pepper mixture to reach a volume of 1/4 cup, then whisk in the lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Prepare grill.
Thread the shrimp on skewers.
Grill the shrimp for about 2 minutes, then flip skewers and grill until cooked through, an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from the grill and cover lightly with foil as you prepare the rest of the salad.
Grill the shrimp for about 2 minutes, then flip skewers and grill until cooked through, an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from the grill and cover lightly with foil as you prepare the rest of the salad.
Once everything is off the grill, begin building the salad. Cut the kernels off the corn and add them to a large bowl. Cut the zucchini crosswise into 1/2 inch-thick slices, and add those as well. Slice or tear the bread into bite-sized pieces. Crumble the feta into the bowl, and top with the chopped basil. Drizzle the dressing over the top, then toss well to combine.
Divide among plates, then lightly sprinkle each serving with salt and freshly ground pepper. Top each serving with several shrimp, and serve.