If you’re hosting a vegan BBQ this year, whether you’re a vegan yourself or you have vegan guests, then you’re in the right place. A lot of people are still sceptical about vegan food despite the health benefits, however this is a great opportunity to show people how wonderful it can be, and it also means you don’t need to cater to lots of different people if someone is vegan or has a dairy intolerance. From a few recipe ideas to how to create a balance that everyone will enjoy, we’ve got you covered!
Still Cook On Coals
We’re going to move onto some good recipe inspiration, but a good place to start is to make sure you’re still cooking on coals where you can! So, with any vegan meat alternatives or vegetables, cook them on the coals to make sure you get that signature smoke and char that is key to a bbq. It also just gets people in the BBQ feel which helps!
Offer A Mixture Of Meat Alternatives and Vegetable Dishes
Next up, it’s important to offer a mixture of meat alternatives that actually replicate meat and then also some vegetable dishes. People have different preferences, and so offering both will help to keep everyone happy. Here’s a few examples of what you could include in your menu in terms of your main dishes!
Meat Alternatives
Firstly, we’re talking meat alternatives. Some people enjoy the taste of meat, and so providing this at the BBQ is key. Plus, there are now so many fantastic options! Great sausages and burgers are available that are very realistic, then you can get so many other delicious options, like koftas, vegan chicken fillets, bacon to go on burgers and then even things like ribs and chicken wings! Have a look at what is available at your local supermarkets and get creative.
Then, as well as your classic ‘meat’ replacements, this is a great opportunity to show people how wonderful vegan food can be without just replacing classic meat choices with vegan options. Here are some delicious vegan BBQ ideas for main dishes that everyone will love.
– Grilled pineapple and tofu skewers
– A falafel and hummus platter
– Chargrilled aubergine with a tahini dressing
– BBQ tofu wings with a ranch dipping sauce
– Quinoa and black bean burgers
– Italian stuffed peppers with lentils and fresh herbs
– Jerk jackfruit tacos with a mango salsa
This is a chance to get creative, try something new and really convert your guests!
Focus On Your Seasonings
If you’re not used to cooking vegan food, then a big area that many people miss is not seasoning the food properly. Plants and grains naturally have less flavour, but it’s really easy to add it which is good! Firstly, you can use spices and herbs, just as you would with meat. Marinating is key and really helps you to get a good flavour, so use some of your favourite combinations of flavours, whether it’s Chinese 5 spice, Turkish cuisine, Indian seasonings, classic BBQ mixes, Middle Eastern flavours, Jerk seasoning or anything else. If you’re not confident in making your own mixes, you can buy pre-made ones which are great. You could either do dry rubs or mix them with a liquid (water, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce or an oil) to create more of a liquid rub.
Another option is to create a sauce for your dish (usually as well as seasoning), from things with a creamy coconut milk base through to satay sauces, chimichurri, agave and mustard and so much much more! This is a great finisher for your dish that will look and taste incredible and really bring it to life!
Have Great Sides
We all know that no BBQ is complete without some great sides, and you can really easily make vegan versions of your favourites! Here is some inspiration for flavour packed sides:
● Creamy vegan potato salad
● Mango, tomato and red onion salsa with fresh coriander
● A charred peach, walnut and rocket salad
● Peri-peri sweet potato and charred corn
● Lemon orzo pasta salad with homemade pesto drizzle
● Smashed cucumber and chilli salad
● Vegetable skewers with a chimichurri dressing
● Thai inspired slaw with sesame seeds
● Cajun potato wedges
● Sriracha cauliflower wings
Don’t Forget Your Drinks!
Last but not least, you can’t forget your drinks. Some classic drinks aren’t vegan, as animal products are usLast but not least, you can’t forget your drinks. Some classic drinks aren’t vegan, as animal products are used in the manufacturing process, however here are some vegan-friendly drinks to get stocked up on! If you have a garden studio, you could set up all the drinks here to clear more space in your kitchen.
● Spirits: most spirits are vegan, just make sure to avoid any that are quite creamy or contain honey, such as honey rums, Irish cream liqueurs and tequila rose
● Cocktails: get vegan can cocktails or use the spirits above to create your own mix!
● Beers: not all beers are vegan, but here are some popular vegan-friendly brands – Budweiser, Becks, Heineken, Corona, Asahi, Guinness and Peroni
● Wine and prosecco: many wines and proseccos use animal products in their filtration process, so make sure that you do some research to find vegan options, or spend some time checking the labels when you’re shopping