A Meal for Four on a Grill for Two?? (burgers, charcoal grill, skewered)

[Iggier]

Need some creative ideas on how to manage this. I need to grill (on a charcoal grill) a meal for four on a grill that's too small for the job. The charcoal grill is the Weber 18.5" One-Touch Gold (not made anymore in this version, which has the ash catcher basin). On the menu is is about a pound of teeny potatoes (skewered), about 1.5 pounds asparagus, and four 6-8 oz filet mignon steaks.

The potatoes need to go first as they take the longest, but only a bit longer than the steaks. If the coals are real hot around the grill perimeter, the potatoes can go on the edges, and the steaks in the center. Asparagus is about five minutes if the coals are still piping hot, so as the steaks rest, the asparagus goes on.

Still, it's nearly impossible to get the perimeter coals as hot as the center coals, and it seems that by the time the steaks and potatoes are cooked, there won't be enough heat for the asparagus. The earlier grilled foods will go cold waiting for added coals heat to red/ash.

Another strategy is to grill the potatoes and asparagus first, then move them to a heated oven to keep warm. Then grill the steaks. Again, seems the coals won't hold the highest heat necessary to sear the filets.

Ideas?

[weezycom]

parcook the potatoes in the microwave and finish on the grill edges as the steaks are cooking. Then you should still have plenty of heat for the asparagus

[momtothree]

Can you blanch the asparagus first and then just grill them last so they don't necessarily need the intense heat to cook but will pick up that grilled flavor? Or take off the grill rack, laying foil on the coals and putting the asparagus on the foil. (but that's crazy talk. )

[mainebrokerman]

can you roll the potatoes in tinfoil,,then place right on the coals? on the edge-with the asparagus over this?(rotate every 5 minutes) this will give you more surface area- then finish on the grill grate for a few minutes after the asparagus is done(never seen the potatoes the way you explained)

[Chimuelojones]

I cant see the fire going out so quickly. all your cokking is a lb of potatoes, 4 fillet and lb asperagus.

it shouldnt take more that 30min to cook all of it.

you fire, if you use 4lbs coals should last 1 to 1-1/2 hours. plenty of cook time.

practice. place a small bag of coals and make hambergers one at a time and see how much cooking time you get, you should get enough to cook four burgers, one after the other, or about 1 hour of total cooking time.

[Jkgourmet]

Maybe it's not creative, but I'd roast the potatoes and maybe the aspargus in the oven and leave the grill for the steaks. That assures that the steaks (the most important and expensive part of the meal) can be properly attended to and turn out perfectly.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

Maybe it's not creative, but I'd roast the potatoes and maybe the aspargus in the oven and leave the grill for the steaks. That assures that the steaks (the most important and expensive part of the meal) can be properly attended to and turn out perfectly.

this is good advice!!

[Iggier]

Originally Posted by weezycom

parcook the potatoes in the microwave and finish on the grill edges as the steaks are cooking. Then you should still have plenty of heat for the asparagus

Thanks. D'oh - why didn't I think of parboiling the potatoes? Good idea. This will probably be my strategy.

And thanks too to the other posters for their ideas. It's important for the entire meal to have the grill flavor, so cooking the asparagus and potatoes indoors isn't an option.