MIKE HOUSE

Summer is the season of the grill. Beef and pork are the usual suspects, but what if you want something a little lighter? And something that’s not chicken? A whole saltwater fish, like pompano, is a quick, flavorful alternative that’s easy to prepare. Pair it with grilled summer vegetables and some basmati rice to make a meal fit for royalty. It all starts with the seasoning. Fresh herbs like thyme are a great garnish, but they also serve as part of a spice mixture called za’atar that’s used in a lot of middle eastern cooking. Due to the lemony taste in sumac, another key ingredient, za’atar is the perfect seasoning for grilled zucchini and summer squash.