Vegetable Skewers

Vegetable skewers are a delicious and versatile dish, perfect as an appetizer or as a side dish. Here is an adaptable and simple recipe to enjoy the freshness of vegetables in a tasty and light way.

Ingredients

• 2 zucchinis
• 1 eggplant
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 red onion
• 10 cherry tomatoes
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Aromatic herbs (for example, thyme, rosemary or oregano) to taste
• Balsamic vinegar (optional)
• Toothpicks or wooden skewers

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the vegetables: wash and slice zucchinis and eggplant into approximately 1 cm thick rounds; clean and cut peppers into similarly sized pieces; peel the onion and cut it into wedges; wash the cherry tomatoes.
2. Soak toothpicks or wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes, this will prevent them from burning during cooking.
3. Begin to thread the vegetables on the skewers alternately to achieve a mix of colors and flavors.
4. Once the skewers are ready, season with salt, pepper, aromatic herbs, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. If you like, you can also add a touch of balsamic vinegar.
5. Prepare a barbecue or a very hot grill to cook the skewers. If you don’t have a grill available, you can use a griddle or an oven set to “grill”.
6. Cook the skewers, turning them occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized, for about 10-15 minutes.
7. Serve them hot or at room temperature.

Note: If you prefer a more flavorful Italian version, you could add bits of bread or alternate the vegetables with cubes of hard cheese like provola, which holds up to the heat without melting immediately.

Curiosity

Vegetable skewers are an excellent opportunity to show creativity in the kitchen. In Italy, especially during summer barbecues, skewers are prepared with a variety of Mediterranean vegetables and often accompanied by chimichurri sauce or pesto to add more flavor.