Vegetarian ‘mains’ for BBQ

[OMGitsnotgood]

Having a BBQ, there will be 2 vegetarian guests, plus one who will eat vegetarian if they ‘don’t like the look of the meat’ so let’s assume 3 😂

We have two barbecues, one that is used only for vegetarian food.

For the meat eaters:
We have really good sausages from our butchers, I’ll make the burgers, and I will marinade some chicken thighs.

These particular vegeatarians are happy with shop bought veggie sausages and burgers (plenty of experience at their own BBQs to be sure) I just tben need one addiitional veggie option to make up for the lack of chicken. I usually do some sort of kebab with mushrooms, peppers, onions and tempeh or tofu. But I’ve done these several times for the same guests, so this is where I need some new ideas please.
Preferably a ‘main’ - all the sides will be vegetarian - various salads, BBQ sweetcorn., potato wedges etc

thank you

Halloumi BBQs really nicely! You could marinade it like the chicken?

A friend made me fresh pineapple and halloumi skewers with sweet chilli sauce. Was lush!

Halloumi chunks on skewers smothered in sweet chilli sauce, or works well on a tray in slices either in oven or on bbq

Definitely halloumi, also definitely buy more than you think you'll need. I'm a meat eater but I would definitely be wanting some halloumi 🤤

What are you marinating the chicken in, could you substitute paneer for the veggies and pop it on a kebab stick with some peppers?

Tikka masala paneer or tikka masala aubergine (precooked then marinaded and BBQ'd) is my current fave as long as the spices would work with your sides.

I always do a Hugh Fearnley Whitingstall recipe that is halloumi, new potato and tomato kebabs (should be able to find it if you google). It’s delicious. You marinate the halloumi and potatoes in basil and chilli and olive oil before skewering.

Just make sure the halloumi is vegetarian if you use it because sometimes they use animal renet.

Halloumi only eats well if you eat it straight away imo otherwise it sits and gets dry and squeaky.

do they eat fish? Prawn skewers would be good but will need a strict warming to the non veggies to back off. Thai fish cakes with dipping sauce, leave the fish out if they don’t eat it.

Has anyone suggested halloumi?

I don't have any extra ideas but just a tip off the the new-ish Beyond Burgers with the jalapenos in them are bloody delicious.

😂

In all seriousness op, you sound amazing and catering well to everyone.
What about seitan if you're after a change for the veggies/ vegans? Its in the chilled aisle next to all the tofu etc.
Dont forget nice dips too. Even though its a bbq some dips always go down a treat especially with veggies.
Have fun :)

Quesadillas https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/grilled-courgette-bean-cheese-quesadilla
Or paneer tikka https://www.thetravellingtikki.co.uk/blog-roll/recipe-bbq-paneer-tikka

Oh actually courgette slides go lovely in the BBQ, especially if they're covered in olive oil, lemon and garlic.

Cauliflower steaks marinaded with yoghurt and tandoori spices.

Aubergine tempura fritters

Thank you everyone. Seems like halloumi is the way to go😂
Not decided on chicken marinade yet, was waiting to see what vegetarian option I land on. I think I would use a different marinade to the chicken so that it is a different flavour, I will have to make enough of the veggie option for everyone as is always said on threads about veggie food, whatever the occasion!

Tofu marinaded in bbq sauce is really nice in a burger!

@SushiDiscothat sounds lovely

My dad used to do me a lovely marinated aubergine when I was a vegetarian teenager - you cut the aubergine in half lengthways and then score the flesh side with a knife. That way the marinade soaks into the aubergine really well. Then just grill on both sides. Not sure what the marinade recipe was but I'm sure there are some available online.

Just hosted today with 2 veggies, the halloumi style burgers from Aldi went down well and look up Jamie Oliver’s warm broccoli salad - you usually serve it with crispy bacon but I served that separately and it went down a treat with the other usual salads.

Vegetarians DO NOT eat fish. End of.
They are not vegetarian if they eat fish.

We eat this recipe weekly during warm weather. My DH isn’t a vegetarian but even he’s obsessed. https://www.irishtimes.com/food/recipes/2023/08/12/genevieve-taylors-harissa-potato-halloumi-and-asparagus-kebabs-with-coriander-and-lemon-oil/

My only amendment to the recipe is that I put the asparagus, potatoes and halloumi on different skewers. The potatoes take longer to char than the halloumi so it’s easier to start them a few minutes earlier. Once everything is cooked, I mix everything together on a platter and drizzle the lemon oil over (generously).

The book is filled with great veggie recipes for bbqs.

Stuffed peppers (couscous or rice, some cheese eg feta, some pesto, then add whatever veg... Tomatoes or mushrooms Always work well) then you wrap in foil and put on the bbq.

Tofu burgers? The meat eaters would give those a swerve, unlike the halloumi.

Corn on the cob? Or corn 'ribs'.

Using @SpelledOlivia aubergine idea, you can make a cheat's baba ganush, whole aubergine on the BBQ, once soft cut in half scoop out the flesh and mix with mayo.

Warm some pita bread on the BBQ and serve.

An Australian colleague I had always insisted on putting a pan on the BBQ for onions.

Root veg can be wrapped in foil and cooked directly on the coals.