Electric griddles can be beneficial in a lot of different ways, and can offer the ability to make larger amounts of a variety of foods for those times when you need to get a lot done and wouldn’t normally have the space to do it. Many people think of these tools as being great when cooking large breakfasts, but they can be immensely helpful for other meals as well. There are a number of different dinner meals that are easy to cook on an electric griddle, and may even end up being healthier.
The Benefits
Electric griddles offer a large, flat surface that can offer a lot of space for cooking on. This nifty tool heats evenly as well, which means everything being cooked on the griddle will be cooked at about the same rate. If you’re cooking a meal that can’t be made entirely on the electric griddle, you’ll have the benefit of having the stove free for the parts of the meal that won’t cook well on the griddle.
For meats, most electric griddles have an especially nice feature which allows the grease from the meat to drain away into a well that sits around the griddle. You also get the benefit of being able to keep things warm within the space under the griddle.
The Recipes
Crab Cakes
- 1lb crab meat
- ¼ cup Mayonnaise
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 1/2tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp. Lemon juice
- Kosher salt, to taste
- 1/2tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp. Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley
Start by placing the crab into a mixing bowl off to the side for later use. Then whisk together the lemon juice, Old Bay, mustard, mayonnaise and egg in a small bowl. Pour that mixture onto the crab and gently mix until all of the ingredients have combined. Add the parsley and breadcrumbs, continuing to mix them into the combination. Use plastic wrap to cover your creation and place it in the fridge for one to three hours. After it has sufficiently chilled, form 1 inch patties out of the mixture. Make sure to place some butter and olive oil onto the griddle as it heats to about medium. Once the pan has warmed up well, place the cakes on it and allow them to cook for about four or five minutes on each side. Then serve with your chosen garnish.
Falafel Patties
- Garlic, 1 clove, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped finely
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 cup of Cilantro
- 1 cup of cooked Brown Rice
- 15oz of Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tsp Curry Powder
- 1 cup of Flat-Leaf Parsley
- ¾ cup Bread Crumbs
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Begin by sautéing your onion and garlic together until the garlic has turned a golden color and the onion is soft, then place those ingredients into a blender, adding the chickpea, parsley, cilantro, rice cayenne pepper and curry powder.
Mix all the ingredients on the pulse setting until they are evenly distributed and finely chopped. Drain that mixture into a bowl, adding ¼ of the bread crumbs and the lemon juice. Knead the mixture and form patties, then coat each patty with the remaining bread crumbs sparingly. Heat them up on the griddle, brushing each one with a little more oil. Cook them for about four minutes on each side and then serve.
Grilled Chicken Breasts
- 4 Chicken Breasts
- 2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons of Runny Honey
- A small amount of vegetable oil
First, cover your chicken breasts with a grease-proof paper and flatten them until they are about a ½ inch thick. Combine all the other ingredients in a bowl, then add the chicken and let it marinate for at least an hour. Remove the chicken and set the marinade aside for later use. Get your griddle very hot and brush it with a small amount of oil. Add the chicken breasts to the griddle and let them cook for about four or five minutes on each side. Strain your marinade and allow it to boil and then simmer in a saucepan for about one minute. Once the chicken is cooked, serve it with the sauce and any other sides you prefer.
Conclusion
Overall, the electric griddle is a tool that offers up a wide variety of benefits to you and anyone you cook for. They can allow you to cook more at once and even in a healthier manner if you’re cooking something that normally produces a lot of grease. It’s a great tool for camping as well as at home. Whether you’re using the stove for something else or just find the griddle to be more effective, it’s going to be worth your while.
