Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

Original poster

Veggie at a non veggie BBQ

41 replies

myheartgoesout · 08/07/2018 23:49

At a BBQ, what could someone prepare to make you feel like you were being catered for, as opposed to an after thought, that’ll do kind of thing?

OP posts:
sentenceinterrupted · 08/07/2018 23:54

Quyen sausages and/or a veggie burger Pattie. Rest of food as per the others (salads etc)...

LittleBirdBlues · 08/07/2018 23:54

Ask them!

But also, having a veggie only bbq would be good. Some vegetarians wouldn't want the meat juices anywhere near their food.

Some things I've made in the past for vegetarian friends:

Corn on the cob (soak with their leaves in water fies)
Halloumi of courde
Vegetable skewers: marinate the vegetables forxto add flavour.
Lots of sides: potato salad, couscous or bean salad, garlic butter for bread...

LilQueenie · 08/07/2018 23:56

I'm veggie and I would be happy with veggie sausages or burger. Particularly Quorn ones. Veg skewers with halloumi cheese are also good.

CaviarAndCigarettes · 08/07/2018 23:56

My mum always does bbq corn on the cob and veggie kebabs with mushroom, pepper, onion and tomato. Love them!
I'm not veggie but I don't like to eat much meat.
My veggie friend love halloumi burgers. And the Linda McCartney caramelised onion sausages are delicious!

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 08/07/2018 23:56

Paneer Tikka. It's so good.
Paneer is cheap in Asda just now.

CarolineForbes · 09/07/2018 00:04

The vivera brand does some great burgers and meat alternatives. Seen it in Tesco and Waitrose so far

Sammyham88 · 09/07/2018 00:06

As a veggie/ going vegan I'd definitely not eat from a BBQ that has also had/ is having meat cooked on it, would also need seperate BBQ tongues and plates etc so there's no cross contamination.

As PP have put, quorn, linda mccartney, any meat free sausages/ burgers is a good shout.
Corn on the cob.
Vegetable skewers.
Grilled mushrooms.

Pretty much anything you have on a regular meat BBQ can be done meat free!

CaviarAndCigarettes · 09/07/2018 00:07

Ooh and ensure you have separate utensils and plates for veggie food and make sure veggie food is cooked on a separate side to the meat.
I know several vegetarians and vegans. Some aren't too worried about stuff touching, some are. But all of them have appreciated the effort involved in ensuring it's not mixed

CaviarAndCigarettes · 09/07/2018 00:08

@Sammyham88 would you mind if half of the bbq was dedicated to vegetarian food with separate utensils etc?

SheldonandPenny · 09/07/2018 00:13

Keep the veggie food xompletely separate. Even a disposable bbq is better than meat juices near/on veggie food.

TheBiologicalWoman · 09/07/2018 00:16

Thanks for checking.
My PIL did yet another buffet and BBQ with not one vegetarian option, even though they've known me for 12 years and I always accommodate them.
Fortunately, having been on the receiving end of their hospitality for 12 years, I took cold Quorn rolls in my bag.
Why is it so hard to consider guests?

Sammyham88 · 09/07/2018 01:51

@CaviarAndCigarettes

Honestly, know some would think I'm being unreasonable but I wouldn't feel comfortable unless the meat and veggie options were cooked on a separate BBQ's, the meat splatter/ juices/ smell etc from the meat being cooked so close by and the possible cross contamination would put completely off the veggie selection.

Like most restaurants have separate meat/ veggie grills nowadays and would expect the same at a BBQ, you can pick up disposable ones for so cheap now that I wouldn't really see it as an issue to do.

Original poster
myheartgoesout · 09/07/2018 07:18

To be clear - there will be no cross contamination! And I can't ask her because she is the girlfriend of a guest and we have not met her before.
So my plan currently is vaguely Middle Eastern, Baba Ganoush, hummous, Pomegranate salad, roast baby potatoes, a couple of sauces with flat breads. The meat eaters will get Pork Souvlaki and Lamb Shamwarma. So the easy thing is to do haloumi for the veggie, but it feels a bit like an after thought.

OP posts:
Original poster
myheartgoesout · 09/07/2018 07:21

@Sammyham88 would you mind if half of the bbq was dedicated to vegetarian food with separate utensils etc? I wouldn't do this as meat spits a lot.

OP posts:
SentToTheSynByn · 09/07/2018 07:49

What about falafel and halloumi skewers, with a few veggies as well? I often do stuffed peppers - either the mini ones stuffed with cream cheese, or big ones filled with olives, tomatoes, garlic, feta.

Field mushrooms barbecue well. I recently bought some in Tesco stuffed with a tomatoey lentil mix. Was yum.

Original poster
myheartgoesout · 09/07/2018 08:11

I have thought of doing falafel but I'd need to give all my attention to a pan of hot oil rather than my guests and to be at their best they need to be fried and eaten immediately.

OP posts:
squeelof1 · 09/07/2018 14:18

Hey, you really don't need to be going above and beyond for a guests girlfriend that you don't even know.

It really does not matter if it just seems like an after thought because no matter what way you try to look at this, it IS an after thought; your initial plan was to have this BBQ and everyone going is a non-meat eater then you get word a veggie is suddenly coming along.

She's just a tag along, not someone you know or care about and should realize she's agreed to go to a BBQ which no doubt is full of meat and meat eaters, and she doesn't even KNOW you, so what on earth does she expect? she should be glad there is a veggie option available for her to eat, at least you've thought of her and acknowledged her dietary lifestyle; that's all she could ask for.

Your prime focus is catering for meat eaters and no one should think any less than because of what you are be able to offer her.

P.S to be honest I find it a real pain when someone brings their mystery girl/boyfriend along to events, no one knows them, they're just awkward and don't really talk to or bother with anyone else except to cling their little date that took them there the whole time AND you have to cater for them, yikes.

WildFlower2018 · 09/07/2018 14:27

M&S have some absolutely fab vegetarian "posh dog" hot dogs. They're delicious! HTH x

NoSquirrels · 09/07/2018 14:29

Field mushrooms for veggie burgers. Or aubergine slices.
Halloumi & veg kebabs.
Leeks/spring onions & corn cobs are delicious part-boiled then charred off on the grill.
Whole Camembert studded with garlic & rosemary and done in the box (wrap in tin foil)
Loadsa salads and dips.

Original poster
myheartgoesout · 09/07/2018 18:20

@ squeelof1 we want the boyfriend of the veggie to join our company, both were asked, we want to meet her, she's important to him - we want to convince him to leave the blue chip he currently works for and come and join our very small company. She is important to him, so by extension she is important to us. I don't mind at all catering for whims, dietary, religious, allergies, fads etc - I do not judge people's food choices....I just want our guests to enjoy themselves, feel well looked after and have a good day.

OP posts:
greendale17 · 09/07/2018 18:26

Just shove the vegetarian stuff in the oven. Having another separate barbecue just to cook a few things for one person is too much hassle.

purgotas · 09/07/2018 18:29

My dp is vegetarian and we use

-Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers and sausages they are big and good quality which shows you've put thought into it whereas quorn burgers and sausages are like cardboard and is too obvious.
-vegetable skewers
-salad foods and garlic potatoes
-coleslaw
-corn on cob etc

AsAProfessionalFekko · 09/07/2018 18:30

Halloumi - I could eat my body weight in grilled halloumi.

purgotas · 09/07/2018 18:31

We cook he vege at one side then devide I swing vege skewers and potatoes Precooked but put in tin foil for the bbq. Meat on the other side. I would try to ensure you bbq the vege food and not make a big deal or fuss by oven cooking and making it obvious.

Gizlotsmum · 09/07/2018 18:35

I would prefer mine cooked on a separate bbq or in the oven. Could you ask via her boyfriend which she would prefer. A small disposable one would be fine