🌻 Grilled Sunflower Head with Uncle Clarence BBQ Righteous Rib Rub

A UCBBQ Original Recipe

Backstory:

This one started with a spark of curiosity from my wife. She was scrolling through TikTok one evening and paused on a video of someone grilling an entire sunflower head. Not just the seeds. Not just the petals. The whole head. It was wild — but something about it stuck with her.

She turned to me and said, “You know… I think we should try that.”

Now, I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first. Grilling a sunflower? Really? But in our house, curiosity (and love) always wins.

So one summer afternoon, while I was outside grilling up steaks and corn on the cob, she went over to the garden — to that big patch right by the grapevine — and cut off one of our giant sunflower heads. She brushed it with extra virgin olive oil, then gave it a good sprinkle and rub of Uncle Clarence BBQ Righteous Rib Rub — the same blend my father used, and the one that built the foundation of this entire brand.

What happened next caught me off guard. The sunflower came off the grill smoky, savory, and packed with unexpected flavor — almost like a cross between roasted corn and popcorn. I fell in love with not just the taste, but the texture too.

To be honest, it’s now one of my favorite quick summer grilling snacks. It’s plant-based, grill-approved, and full of family flavor. Who would've thought that after all these years of growing sunflowers, we had an even better use than just roasting seeds?

So if you see a sunflower sitting pretty in your yard — don’t just walk past it. Fire up that grill and give it a try.

Stay blessed, stay humble, and enjoy this unique recipe.

🧂 Ingredients:

• 1 whole sunflower head (make sure it’s young and tender, not fully dried)

• Olive oil (for brushing)

• 1½ tbsp Uncle Clarence BBQ Righteous Rib Rub (or Righteous Rib with a Kick for heat)

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp maple syrup or agave (optional)

• Sea salt (to taste)

• Fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro (for garnish)

🔥 Instructions:

1. Prep the sunflower head: Trim the sunflower stem down to the base. Remove any loose petals and rinse thoroughly.

2. Season it up: Brush the sunflower head with olive oil. In a small bowl, mix lemon juice, maple syrup, and the Righteous Rib Rub. Slather the blend generously over the face of the sunflower head.

3. Grill it: Preheat grill to medium-high. Place the sunflower head face-down directly on the grates. Grill for about 5–7 minutes until it begins to char and caramelize.

4. Flip & Finish: Flip and grill the back side for 2–3 minutes. Remove and let rest for a minute or two.

5. Garnish & Serve: Slice into wedges, sprinkle with sea salt and fresh herbs, and serve warm.

Perfect for:
Vegans, BBQ lovers, and anyone looking for a bold plant-based dish with serious grill energy.