Barbecues are a great opportunity to bring people together and enjoy some great food. It is also a fun way to show off your grilling skills and finally make that awesome dish you have been bragging about around the office (you know the one).
But after all is said and done and you have perfected those grilled barbecue ribs and burgers, and everything is prepared for your much anticipated Saturday afternoon outdoor meal, a wrench is thrown into your meaty plans. Sally is coming with her partner and they are now both vegetarian.
What are you to do? Do you splurge on your usual veggie or fruit platter purchased at the grocery store? Maybe grill some asparagus and call it a day?
No. There is still another way for you to rock that barbecue like a boss. After all, you are the grill master.
I was a vegetarian for over a decade and most of the time when I went to a barbecue, or any other food gathering for that matter, vegetarian options consisted of several types of salad, fruit (it may or may not be cut up into edible sizes) and maybe a potato. Very rarely was there a main dish or a creative take on a classic veggie, so I basically stuck to the side dishes.
Next barbecue, don’t be that guy. Razzle dazzle your guests with your own creation or a classic with a twist, and your vegetarian friends will love you because they get to eat and feel culinarily included.
You don’t have to be a professional chef to impress. All you need is a little creativity and a knife. Here are some ideas to get those mouths watering.
Veggie kabobs
This is a really easy way to incorporate some veggie items to your meal. You could go classic with veggie kabobs, but put a spin on it by marinating the veggies in a yummy sauce of your creation and saving some to pour on top when serving for an extra kick of flavour.
Corn on the cob
Forget boiling or steaming these puppies. Grill them on the barbecue and add flavours like butter, lemon juice, dill, Parmesan or even blue cheese. You won’t regret it, and neither will your mouth. If you are going to serve a side dish, do it with style.
Stuffed tomatoes or peppers
Grab one of these awesome veggies and stuff them with rice or quinoa or other fun ingredients, and don’t forget to add herbs and spices! There are so many Internet recipes that will help you grill any stuffed veggie like a champ, and you don't have to stick to just tomatoes and peppers, eggplant and portobello mushrooms like to get in on the action too.
Grilled veggies salad
Roast or grill a bunch of veggies, grab some quinoa and maybe some feta and fresh tomatoes, mix it all together with olive oil and apple cider vinegar and sea salt. Contrary to what Homer Simpson would have you believe, it’s a simple and quick way to make friends.
Bean burgers
If you got beans you can make a great veggie burger, all you need is breadcrumbs, egg and a little bit of imagination!
Potatoes
You can definitely stuff them, but have you thought of skewering them? Adding some spices such as oregano or rosemary and serving them with a dipping sauce? I mean you are going to serve a potato, serve a badass one.
Bean Burger
Ingredients:
• 1 cup cooked red beans
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1 grated carrot
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 1 tsp Himalayan salt
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• ¾cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
• 2 cloves of crushed garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, lightly mashing the beans.
2. Gently shape mixture into burgers approximately ¾-inch thick.
3. Throw on the barbecue and serve on a grilled bun with desired toppings and veggies
