Barbecues - Meat or Vegetables?

Barbecues - not just a meat party

However innovative we are if barbecuing, most of what ends up on the grill is basically meat-based - sausages, burgers, steaks, chicken - although the likelihood is that at least some proportion of your b-b-q visitors will probably be vegetarian.

So how are you able to cater for them, with out causing them to feel like they’re an afterthought?
Sure, they might fill up on the many accompaniments - salads, pasta, bread and so on - but a great host would want to make sure all their visitors really feel they have been considered.

Above all, think about your own cooking measures.
While some vegetarians will not be very troubled, individuals who are vegetarian for religious or moral factors won't desire to eat food which was cooked on the same grill as the pork sausages, so it’s wise to think ahead.

When you've got a sizable barbecue, you can possibly designate an entire grill for veggie choices.
If not, you’ll possibly have to have a supplementary barbecue (or possibly a disposable one) to hand.
You could elect to cook many of the veggie options first, and make sure that the grill has been thoroughly cleaned before you begin, however unless you’re just providing for a few individuals this will likely turn out to be a bit of a logistical headache.

Where do you turn if a veggie guest arrives late and you’ve run out of suitable food, and began cooking meat on the actual grill?

Okay, so you’ve taken care of your vegetarian-only grill, whatever it may be.

Next - what to cook? Sure, you can go for pre-prepared vegetarian sausages as well as burgers.
However do read the cooking information first - many are unsuitable for barbecuing, and because of their lower fat content often burn and stick on the barbeque grill.

It may seem easier to put a frying pan on the fire and cook them by doing this - which solves your issue regarding using a meat-tainted grill!

No matter what veggie meals you will be cooking, make sure you brush the grill with oil first to avoid sticking.

Also remember a great deal of vegetarians don’t actually like the flavour of meat, so may not be too thrilled being given a meat replacement.

But let’s get a bit more amazing with your vegetarian barbecuing choices.

A number of our most liked ingredients (which may well be scoffed by the meat-eating guests, therefore be sure you do plenty) are:

Portobello mushrooms - merely brush them with oil and cook on the grill.

They are often offered in a bun like a burger, together with cheese and burger relishes.

Corn on the cob - place in foil first or it will simply get singed instead of cooked.

We find it wise to have these precooked and then brushed with butter and finished off on the bbq for getting
that wonderful great smoky flavour.

Halloumi cheese - this functions so well on a bbq, as it retains together instead of melting in to an unmanageable mess, and it has an attractive chewy texture.

Make Halloumi and vegetable kebabs, and drizzle with olive oil before cooking.

Grilled vegetables - asparagus, sliced aubergines or even sweet potatoes cook properly on a bbq.

Brush with olive oil and barbeque grill for around five minutes.

If you realise they are getting singed without having cooked properly, cover in aluminum foil first, cook and then unwrap them and finish off on the barbeque grill for your authentic bbq flavour.

Aubergine parcels - these grilled aubergine slices can be rolled around a variety of delightful fillings.

Consider goat’s cheese and herbs, for instance.

Wrap an aubergine slice around a chunk of cheese, secure with a cocktail stick and pop onto the grill for a few minutes.

Tofu be sure you utilize extra-firm tofu in order to avoid it falling apart make certain you dry it utilizing a clean tea towel or paper towels, which will compress it more and help it to stay together during throughout the baking process.

Tofu is definitely notoriously bland, so marinade it in a flavourful marinade before cutting it into cubes and creating a kebab.

Add some delightful vegetables such as tiny onions, all kinds of peppers and also fresh mushrooms.

Quorn can be treated in a similar manner as tofu.

Just as before, it benefits from a great powerful marinade such as tandoori and also balti (attempt combining a tandoori paste with olive oil, lemon juice, plain yogurt and also herbs).

You can use the identical marinade for any chicken you’re cooking, nevertheless obviously make sure you maintain the two batches of marinade separate.

Marinades - consider the marinades you will be using on your meat dishes and think about using all of them on veggie dishes.
Sweetcorn - for example, will be tasty basted with a sweet honey or perhaps maple sauce dressing, or a lemon or lime and butter coating that you might be using on a few fish.

Again, just be certain that you keep the dressing you choose for meat or even fish separate from that you use to brush on any vegetarian barbecue dishes.

Lastly, make sure you have enough utensils so that you can designate a pair of tongs, spatula, knives and forks as meat-free.

So, there’s absolutely nothing too hard about providing for vegetarians at the b-b-q.

Simply plan in advance allowing you to have a suitable grill for preparing your veggie dishes, go through the ingredients of side dishes so that everyone can appreciate them - enjoy yourself.