Salads often don't seem like they can satisfy hearty appetites, but when salad season overlaps with grilling season, you can make a substantial, smoky, vegetarian main course. There's something about the sturdier components, the heat, and the charred flavor that takes a salad from side to entree. Grill large pieces of yellow squash, portabello mushrooms, fresh fennel, red bell peppers, and thick rounds of red onion. Keeping the vegetables bigger means they won't disappear into the flames halfway through cooking. When they're cooked and slightly cool, chop them into more manageable pieces. While the vegetables are on the grill, whisk a vinaigrette and prep a multitude of greens such as kale, romaine, and arugula. Any greens of varying color and texture will do. Toss the greens and the grilled veggies with the vinaigrette and add cherry tomatoes and fresh chives, and for a final burst of richness, top the salad with crumbled feta and olives.

1. Light a charcoal grill or turn a gas grill to high. Brush the grill rack to clean it. With a wadded paper towel, quickly brush the grates with oil. Have on hand a rimmed baking sheet.

2. Set the yellow squash, portabellos, fennel, red peppers, and red onion on the baking sheet, keeping each variety together. Brush with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Place all the vegetables on the hot grill. Cover the grill. Cook the fennel and yellow squash for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender and charred. Cook the bell peppers for 15 to 18 minutes. Cook the red onions and mushrooms for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the grill when they are tender and transfer to the baking sheet. When the vegetables are cool enough to handle, chop them roughly.

4. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Whisk in 5 tablespoons of the olive oil. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if you like.

5. In a large bowl, toss the kale, arugula, and romaine with half the vinaigrette. In another bowl, toss the grilled vegetables with the remaining vinaigrette, tomatoes, and chives.

6. On a large platter or shallow bowl, spread the greens. Spoon the grilled vegetables on top. Garnish with olives and feta.

Salads often don't seem like they can satisfy hearty appetites, but when salad season overlaps with grilling season, you can make a substantial, smoky, vegetarian main course. There's something about the sturdier components, the heat, and the charred flavor that takes a salad from side to entree. Grill large pieces of yellow squash, portabello mushrooms, fresh fennel, red bell peppers, and thick rounds of red onion. Keeping the vegetables bigger means they won't disappear into the flames halfway through cooking. When they're cooked and slightly cool, chop them into more manageable pieces. While the vegetables are on the grill, whisk a vinaigrette and prep a multitude of greens such as kale, romaine, and arugula. Any greens of varying color and texture will do. Toss the greens and the grilled veggies with the vinaigrette and add cherry tomatoes and fresh chives, and for a final burst of richness, top the salad with crumbled feta and olives.

Vegetable oil (for the grill)2 yellow squash, cut into long wedges2large portobello mushrooms, stemmed1 bulb fresh fennel, frond ends trimmed, bulb cut into 6 wedges2 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and quartered½ red onion, cut into thick rounds8tablespoons olive oil Salt and black pepper, to taste¼cup sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar1tablespoon Dijon mustard1teaspoon honey1clove garlic, finely chopped1tablespoon chopped fresh thyme1small bunch kale, stemmed, leaves roughly torn1cup baby arugula1 romaine lettuce heart, chopped1cup cherry tomatoes, halved2tablespoons chopped fresh chives⅓ cup black or green olives⅓ cup crumbled feta

1. Light a charcoal grill or turn a gas grill to high. Brush the grill rack to clean it. With a wadded paper towel, quickly brush the grates with oil. Have on hand a rimmed baking sheet.

2. Set the yellow squash, portabellos, fennel, red peppers, and red onion on the baking sheet, keeping each variety together. Brush with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Place all the vegetables on the hot grill. Cover the grill. Cook the fennel and yellow squash for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender and charred. Cook the bell peppers for 15 to 18 minutes. Cook the red onions and mushrooms for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the grill when they are tender and transfer to the baking sheet. When the vegetables are cool enough to handle, chop them roughly.

4. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Whisk in 5 tablespoons of the olive oil. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if you like.

5. In a large bowl, toss the kale, arugula, and romaine with half the vinaigrette. In another bowl, toss the grilled vegetables with the remaining vinaigrette, tomatoes, and chives.

6. On a large platter or shallow bowl, spread the greens. Spoon the grilled vegetables on top. Garnish with olives and feta.Karoline Boehm Goodnick

Work at Boston Globe Media