BBQ items - both shop bought and homemade (vegetarian not vegan)

[OMGitsnotgood]

We’re having a BBQ ahead of the football on Saturday. Mainly meat eaters but a few vegetarians (not vegan). These vegetarians eat all cheeses.

We do have a separate BBQ which we use only for non-meat items

Meat eaters will be having homemade burgers, sausages from the butchers and chicken drunsticks.

For the vegetarians:
I am planning on buying plant based burgers and sausages, so would appreciate recommendations for best ones (will be from Tesco).

For everyone: vegetable kebabs made with courgettes, mushrooms, onions, peppers, halloumi -ossibly a bit boring? I would welcome I alternative vegetable deas that could be eaten by all.

Also one more vegetarian option, as the meat eaters will have 3 (burgers, sausage and chicken), vegetarians only have burger and sausage. Or maybe I just make them extra kebabs?
Sides will be suitable for all - not finalised yet but will include homemade coleslaw and a mixed salad. Other thoughts please - nothing too ‘carby’ as the burgers and sausages will be in rolls.

Thank you.

Marinaded tofu kebabs or slices?

I wouldn’t worry too much about have 3 options for each group - it is unlikely anyone will be counting.

But one thing that stood out for me is that the meat burgers and sausages are high quality but the shop bought plant ones are unlikely to be. You could replace the burgers with portobello mushrooms (though check with guest as some really don’t like mushrooms).

Corn on the cob also cooks well on a BBQ - and goes down well with everyone.

If you want a sweet course, slices of fresh pineapple or (not too ripe) peaches, halved, would be nice, grilled. With caramel sauce or ice cream.

Yes I agree with you re the quality. I did once make my own vegetarian burgers but they stuck to the BBQ and had put me off trying again - although I could pan fry them then flash on the BBQ maybe . They all like mushrooms, so portobello would be ok, would then take the mushrooms off the kebabs but would rather keep them on.

Oh and agree corn on the cob as a good option, I think some people will be eating standing which makes it a bit tricker to eat

Great idea thank you. Hadn’t got as far as dessert ! Could serve with Swedish Glacé ice cream

Hallumi is great on a BBQ

I second corn, wrapped in foil with a knob of butter. Keep turning it. Peppers do nicely, washed and then cut into quarters, as do portobello mushrooms. If your guest eat fish (which they may not), then salmon or mackerel bakes nicely wrapped in foil.

The Linda mcartney mozarella quarter pounders are veggie burgers and are really nice.

thabk you.

They are definitely vegetarian not pescatarian , so fish would only be for the meat eaters. For this crowd will stick with meat.

Paneer tikka kebabs? You could warm some naan on the BBQ as well

Flat Garlic bread on bbq is lovely. Bake a Camembert in a box. Marinated mushrooms. Waitrose used to do lovely frozen chickpea burgers. I really don’t like fake meat…

Beyond Meat burgers would work for the vegetarians and vegans.
Are you using a vegan mayonnaise for the coleslaw?

As per OP, there are only vegetarians, no vegans. Appreciate this is the vegan board but also a great source of ideas for vegetarian meals too

Another vote for the Beyond Meat burgers - we're really enjoying them at the moment 🙂 Also agree with the Linda McCartney mozzarella burger recommendation.

The vegetable and halloumi skewers and corn on the cob are tasty options too.

As a veggie of 30+ years, I don't need or want fancy options at a BBQ. Your choices sound great and I'd enjoy eating them!

Yes Beyond Burgers all the way. You can get them in Tesco. Personally I prefer Cauldron Lincolnshire sausages as the best veggie ones. Love @Doveyouknowsuggestion of the paneer tikka kebab too! That sounds ace.

go careful with the beyond burgers - they are very sticky so cook low and slow or they’ll just burn

If it doesn't need to be vegan just use normal ice cream!

True - I was thinking about one or the guests who can’t have dairy - hadn’t mentioned that in the OP as can work around that easily and didn’t want to complicate the post. Should have just said ‘ice cream’ as I’ve complicated it unnecessarily anyway sorry !!

This Isn't brand of sausages are really tasty and hold together well. They're much better texture and taste-wise than the bean or vegetable based ones. And they're available in Tesco. The halloumi and vegetable kebabs sounds delicious, not boring, especially if you have a nice marinade on them.

I do eat meat but not often so I’m always causing problems with bbqs and honestly I’m really happy without loads of fuss, I’m not keen on the meat substitutes but will eat the Richmond meat free sausages (fresh ones not frozen) Linda McCartney is horrid anything Linda McCartney! Also the the Richmond bacon rashers on a bbq are amazing cook until really crispy in roll with iceberg and tzatziki really good.

I love all the sides all the lovely’s salads, buy a tin of mixed beans in vinaigrette, wash them and mix with some cooked rice or couscous - very finely chopped cucumber tomatoes red onion and peppers, fresh herbs - mint plus maybe some parsley make a dressing with loads of lemon juice - it’s my favourite salad this year and honestly is best made the day before.

Last night I tried some pineapple - wonderful, slice a fresh pineapple into fingers then spread over a mix of butter brown sugar and sweet cinnamon I cooked them in a sizzler pan to save the mess, they were simple and yet so good with icecream, there was some left over so I stuck them in the fridge, just had them for breakfast with plain yogurt- yummy

What type of skewers do you have? I now have metal ones which are flat and about 1cm wide. It stops the food spinning around the stick when cooking! I bought from amazon.

-Stuffed mini peppers. Cut in half, remove the membranes/seeds. In a bowl mix cream cheese, onion and/or garlic powder, salt/pepper, add some chives or spring onions, mix and place inside the pepper shells. Cook till peppers are just soft. https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/307346023?srsltid=AfmBOoqJunN1tT-V64gD2PWkAq1zOfeflu5bb6sWdgyv9XL4u1ComV3c

Courgettes can be cut into thin slices, marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and herbs then cooked on the BBQ. Might be easier than on skewers. https://boroughmarket.org.uk/recipes/barbecued-courgettes-burnt-lemon-zaatar/

https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/halloumi-padron-skewers-sweet-smokey-honey-drizzle

Ask the veggies what kind of burgers they like - people divide quite sharply between loving and hating the fake meat type.

I’m the old fashioned kind of life long veggie - love spicy bean burgers and veggie burgers and my DC used to like the Southern Fried Quorn burgers when younger but absolutely hate fake meat burgers of any kind. This is quite common and amongst my DC friends the fake meat eaters are the more recent vegans who are still transitioning.
If they prefer traditional veggie burgers then its hard to beat a spicy bean burger made or a good textured nut burger (Good Life used to make a good one) or felafel burgers. I’d be very happy with halloumi kebabs as well.

Veg kebabs (with or without halloumi), halloumi kebabs, new potato with pesto kebabs, cauliflower wings with tamarind marinade - pretty much anything works with a flavoursome marinade, spicy sauces and salsas I also use liquid hickory smoke - a few drops on food with low fat content adds to the smokey flavour.

I agree with fresh fruit salads, watermelon etc but I also get a job lot of ice creams on sticks for the freezer if I have large number of family/friends around. If numbers are smaller we grill stone fruit and bananas.

There are a couple of great veggie bbq books if your library has them - Rukmini Iyer’s Green Barbecue (esp the cauli wings) and Genevieve Taylor’s Charred (esp the chipotle bean burgers). Both have good tips on the cooking process and how it differs from cooking meat/higher fat content items.

Yes @C8H10N4O2makes a good point. I love fake meat because I’m a veggie who actually loves meat but doesn’t eat it!!! But there are lots who really don’t so maybe ask. I never mind being asked..in fact it’s nice that the host is making the effort.

Hugh Fearnley Whatsits book on veg has some BBQ stuff in. I’ll have a look for you later

My heart sinks when there is fake meat at a bbq but lifts when people have put effort into the sides:

Nice salad - @Grumpynan ’s sounds lovely in the post above or tabbouleh

Grilled halloumi
Garlic mushrooms
Baby roast potatoes
Corn on the cob
Homemade coleslaw with vegan mayo

My son does aubergines sliced and marinated. They end up a bit crispy and delicious. He also does large mushrooms with garlic.

I don't know what they're like, but I saw these in Waitrose. www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-bbq-2-harissa-halloumi-burgers/965652-1-2?srsltid=AfmBOoo6ZrjymXYFk1guUeAlTlD2NqplM40Mr2sSIw5RLk3qCR719GOa