Grilled Potato, Corn and Bell Pepper Salad
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Whenever people tell me they don’t like a certain vegetable, I always ask how they’ve had it. If they tell me boiled or steamed, then I don’t doubt their disdain for vegetables – at least when prepared that way.
If you really want to like a vegetable, I recommend roasting it or grilling it. Both methods bring out the sweet flavors of the vegetables and give them a great texture, too. They’re both incredibly easy and incredibly flavorful ways to enjoy vegetables. I can’t tell you how many vegetables I was convinced I hated (asparagus comes to mind) before preparing them this way.
With the great weather, though, now is the time to grill the vegetables rather than roast them. It’s always best to not heat up your house whenever possible, right? Plus, grilling is especially relaxing for me because my husband does it. 🙂 Sure, I still prepped the vegetables and made the dressing. But then I just sat back while he grilled up the vegetables and some Hungarian sausages. Definitely my kind of weeknight meal.
This is a really great, versatile recipe. Grilled corn is one of my favorites and, even though it’s starchy, I still decided to add potatoes to this salad because I like the two of them together. You can really grill any of your favorite vegetables, though, and make a great salad. The best part is this can be served at pretty much any temperature, making it great for potlucks and picnics.
Grilled Potato, Corn and Bell Pepper Salad
Serves 4-6
1.5 lbs. small potatoes (I used small redskin)
2 ears corn
2 bell peppers (I used red), cut in half
1 large vidalia or red onion, cut in half or in quarters (thick slices)
olive oil
salt and pepper
1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
3 Tbsp. good quality balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Grill all the vegetables. Here’s what we did:
Scrub the potatoes and add them (whole) with cold water in a saucepan/pot. Bring to a boil, add some salt, and cook until JUST tender. A fork should be able to go into the potato, but it should still take a little effort. Cool them slightly and then slice them in half lengthwise.
Toss or lightly brush all the vegetables with a little bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. Then, start grilling. You’ll want to start the corn first, followed by the peppers and onions. Since the potatoes are pretty much cooked, they can go on last. Grill until there are noticeable char marks on the vegetables and the peppers and onions are tender.
Cut the corn off the ears, and slice the peppers and onions into strips. Combine all of that with the potatoes and the parsley.
Meanwhile, make the dressing. Whisk together the garlic and the balsamic vinegar, and stir in the dijon. Slowly drizzle the oil in, while continuing to whisk. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Lightly toss the vegetables with the dressing.
I think that phenomenon of overboiling vegetables comes from “meat worship,” where no respect is paid to anything else on the plate. It runs in families!
Delightful and delicious looking Elly! This is such a perfect summer dish. I can’t recall if I’ve tried potatoes this way but def want to try this now!
Oh my gosh, that looks so freaking good!! I could eat ALL of it! Seriously, grill marks on veggies are irresistable! 🙂
That looks so good! I love grilled veggies. This looks like the perfect summer meal!
I agree with you about how to cook vegetables. I have been doing a lot of roasting recently and it makes a huge difference from boiling. This is a great recipe. I have everything in the house so I can make it.
I would be happy to make this my main meal…no meat!! You are so right about roasting veggies…it is the best way to cook them, I agree!!!
These veggies all grilled and tossed together look fantastic! Roasting or grilling veggies is hands down the best way to make them!
I LOVE roasted or grilled veggies, too! This salad looks crazy good!
Yum! This looks really good. Roasted and grilled vegetables are always winners in my book.
I found your blog through an auto-generated link from my blog post about zucchini to yours. Wow, what a great blog you have, Elly. Now that I’ve spent the last 30 minutes getting lost in your pretty pictures and fun voice, I think I’ll go back to work. Just wanted to say nice job!
Welcome, Gwen. Thank you so much for the kind words!
mmm, pretty grill marks!
This is a delicious salad Elly. I hear you on the veggies. If cooked in an appealing way anything tastes good:D
What a nice, summery recipe! I have a corn salad on my menu for tonight, but not grilled. Maybe I should re-think it! Grilled sweet potatoes would be good in there too, I think!
You are so right, Elly. Roasting, baking, and grilling veggies are beyond compare. Who wouldn’t love this dish?
This looks delicious and oh so colorful!
I have a couple more ears of corn in my kitchen and I’m trying to decide what to use them for. This sounds just about perfect! I have to make the most of the grill before Chicago winter starts… is it too soon to be thinking like that? 😉
Mmm, fantastic late summer flavors. Grilling really bringing out the best in veggies.
I love grilled vegetables…they give the salad an special flavor…yummie! Great pictures!
Looks delicious and a great way to use the seasonal produce!
Hi
I have enjoyed your blog on and off for the last few months. I too am a food fan but cookbook novice. I tend to use cookbooks as a starting point, they could feature just colourful photos and bare recipes for all the attention I give to the weights and measures. One dish from a recipe may have maybe one or two ingredients or the method or spices used intact, and everything else succumbs to my inspiration and love to tweak. I decided I had to write since your photo and recipe for this dish gave me the inspiration to create a wonderfully flavourful roasted version with roasted peppers, potato and other assorted veg. Thanks.
Very delicious recipe! I love trying new potatoe recipes, since me and my boyfriend are always eating potatoes. I will definetly make them again!
Hi,
Any reason not to cut the potatoes in half before you boil? Maybe some chemistry reason, like releasing starches, etc? Seems it would lessen boiling time in a hot kitchen, as well as the “hot potato” effect when cutting them.
You can cut them before you boil them. I usually do it the other way because they seem to cook a little more uniformly & there’s less chance I overcook them; plus the skins seem to stay on a bit better. No chemistry reason! 🙂
Hi,
Any reason not to cut the potatoes in half before you boil? Maybe some chemistry reason, like releasing starches, etc? Seems it would lessen boiling time in a hot kitchen, as well as the “hot potato” effect when cutting them.
I really love grilled vegetables. I will try on this recipe in this weekend for my family. I really enjoy reading your articles.