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

Yes, and that other popular vegetarian choice, prawns and fish 🤣

THIS!

Apart from the obvious halloumi, we do field mushrooms or red peppers stuffed with goats’ cheese, roasted sweetcorn, smoked tofu skewers with shallots and chestnut mushrooms, grilled asparagus and pineapple with amaretto for dessert.

Jackfruit is meant to be a nice substitute for pulled pork. Add a nice sauce and buns/ tortillas.

To be honest, as someone who’s been veggie for nearly 40 years, I’m just grateful for any effort that a host makes - don’t worry about parity of dishes - no one will be counting. Key issues for me is that the utensils are not cross contaminated. And experience teaches me that non vegetarians all decide that the veggie options look great and end up helping themselves to it - so suggest you over cater if you’re making any kebabs etc as all the other buggers take them!

Check that the guests aren’t vegan rather than than veggie (although tbh you’ll be have told that a million times if they are….) : some of the processed sausages have egg in them. Linda McCartney ones are vegan, but quorn ones aren’t.
oh and I don’t like halloumi or feta so wouldn’t eat that option …!

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tandoori-paneer-skewers-mango-salsa

A bit different to halloumi but maybe paneer skewers could be nice - you could marinade in shop bought tandoori spices/paste. And unlike halloumi won't need to be eaten immediately.

Portobello mushrooms griddled then basted in garlic butter.

Agree with pp that you want to avoid contamination. Don't put the veggie stuff on the same part as the meat stuff, or use the same utensils. Getting covered in burger juice does not keep it veggie.

How about some sort of chickpea burger or similar?

My dd is vegetarian and gets really frustrated when offered a mushroom or a piece of cauliflower as her “protein main”.

halomi kebabs or slices of marinated halomi but make enough for everyone

Out of interest what cross contamination are you afraid of?

Any ghastly meaty germs will be incinerated on the barbecue .

Don't make things more difficult for your host than they already are.

😂

I would make a quinoa side (so @Newmeagain’s dd couldn’t complain tooooo much) and then I would make vegetable skewers - small onions (par-boiled so they will simply need to char), chunks of peppers, small firm tomatoes, large button mushrooms, courgette chunks.

Then I’d make a couple of homemade bbq relishes. I wouldnt need more than that!

I've been a vegetarian for over 50 years and I'm always grateful when meat eaters cater for me. My only quibble is that they often smother the veggie food in chilli or other hot/spicy sauces, which I hate! I think it's better to serve the veggie burgers and sausages plain and provide some sauces on the side.

No vegetarian wants their food cooked on the same bbq and with the same utensils as used for the meat. If you don't have 2 barbecues or a very large one it's easy to get a disposable one for the veggie food.

I have recently bought chickpea and then kimchi burgers from Aldi. I’m not veggie but I like to limit meat and either of these are absolutely delicious in a brioche bun with a slice of good cheese and loads of salad. It’s my weekly treat!

Another really nice side dish is thinly sliced courgette laid flat on a baking sheet with a few oil sprays and then generously covered with grated Parmesan cheese and baked until cheese is golden and crispy. Really delicious. Obviously this won’t work for vegans but nice for veggies.

This is lovely.

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/warm-spiced-cauliflower-and-chickpea-salad-with-pomegranate-seeds

What about quorn roast? Or there’s spicy strips you can buy from Iceland they’re so nice.

Yes yes @Shetlands ! I think meat eaters sometimes feel sorry for vegetarians “missing out” on the dead animal diet and then over complicate/ overcompensate. Whereas in fact a few well thought out salads,and some chargrilled veg and a corn on the cob, some little new potatoes and a crusty roll - I couldn’t be happier.

Cauliflower steaks
Big mushrooms

Veggie skewers of cherry toms, courgette and red onion

thick slices of corn cob (easier to nibble round)

halloumi if they like it (not everyone does).

lots of lovely veggie salads

Big mushrooms (field mushrooms?) with crumbled Stilton and topped with breadcrumbs. Delicious.

I find haloumi too salty, I'd go for Quorn or something veggie hot dogs

I’m not a fan of fake meat. I’d be delighted with halloumi kebabs, or even better something like marinated aubergine - Bakaret seasoning (sp?) is really good. Bart’s do a good one. Same seasoning that you’d have in a parmigiana or moussaka 🤤

Has lunch at ottolenghi the other day, they do an aubergine with dates and yogurt, they call it a salad but it’s pretty substantial and delicious. Who else would put dates with aubergine! but it works.

Slice aubergines into thick rounds, rub with salt and turmeric and a little oil and bbq, top with crumbled feta, pomegranate seeds and chopped mint 😋