With so many new restaurants opening every day, it’s essential to freshen up your menu or add new items seasonally. It’s summer (finally!) and grilling season is upon us. That’s great for those of us lucky enough to have the space for a 48 inch charbroiler or even an outside grill, but what if you don’t have room for that? Luckily for you, Star Manufacturing offers the perfect solution to this with countertop charbroilers, griddles, and sandwich grills that are small, but pack a punch when it comes to heat retention and recovery times. Star charboilers use heavy-duty cast iron grates that char the food with marks similar to that of an outdoor grill. Those grill marks add depth of flavor and texture, with just a pinch of nostalgia for backyard summer barbecues.
If you’re limited on counter space, we recommend a Star-Max® 15 inch or 24 inch Radiant Gas Charbroiler for creating some fresh new small plates for your menu. The heavy gauge sheet metal radiants assist with the flow of heat to the grates ensuring uniform, predictable cooking for all types of food. Located in between the burners and the grill grates, the radiants also protect the burners from debris, making these charbroilers very easy to clean.
Need some new menu ideas? Offering a variety of small plates allows new patrons to explore your menu, and shared plates is a great way to get guests interacting and talking about your food. Get creative and think of how many foods change dramatically on the grill – tofu cubes, green onions, romaine lettuce, even peaches! Try this simple twist on the good ol’ avocado – perfect as a small plate or salad option.
Grilled Avocado with Tomato Garlic Filling
The Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup fresh cherry tomatoes (try to use red and yellow for some added color)
- 1 TBS fresh basil, thyme, or tarragon
- 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
- 1 TBS olive oil, plus more for brushing the avocado
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 cup arugula
- Salt and pepper to taste
The Process:
- Prepare the tomato mixture by cutting the cherry tomatoes in half into a small bowl
- Add minced garlic, herbs, 1 TBS olive oil, and salt & pepper to taste (add some red pepper flakes for a little heat!)
- Mix tomato mixture together and set aside
- Turn your charbroiler to medium heat
- Cut your avocado in half and remove the seeds. Now cut into quarter, keeping the skin on
- Brush with olive oil and place cut side down on the grill
- Leave on grill for about 5 minutes per side, or until you get the perfect grill marks
- Place arugula on a plate
- Remove avocado pieces from grill, place on top of the arugula, and top with tomato mixture
- Serve as a small plate or appetizer with enough small spoons for the table to share
Enjoy!