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Calling all Vegetarians: How to Have an all Inclusive BBQ
To temp your vegetarian friend and make them feel right at home, head to the kitchen and create a meatless barbecue meal in just a few minutes.
by Lakshmi Reddy – Follow @SaffluenceMag
It is the end of the summer, but who doesn’t want to fit in a few more BBQs and outdoor gatherings before the cold weather sets in? As the burgers sizzle, the beers chill, and guests begin to arrive, make sure your home is welcoming for all of your friends – meat lovers and those who follow a veggie lovers alike.
To temp your vegetarian friend and make them feel right at home, head to the kitchen and create a meatless barbecue meal in just a few minutes.
Vegetarian BBQ Main Dish: Grilled Portobello
We always keep a pack of veggie burgers in the freezer for those just in case moments, but it is so welcoming to offer the option of a freshly made non-meat ‘burger.’ Start by gently washing a portobello mushroom cap. Remove the stem and drizzle both sides of the mushroom with extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. Let the portobello marinate for a few minutes.
When placing the mushroom on the grill, put it on a clean upper rack to prevent unwanted want meat drippings. And don’t forget, please use a separate spatula to flip and serve the mushroom. After grilling, serve the mushroom, burger-style with all the traditional barbeque fixings such as shredded lettuce, onion and tomato. You may want to make a few extras because these are a crowd pleaser, even among the most hearty meat-eaters.
Vegetarian BBQ: Friendly Side Dishes
Most everyday barbeque side dishes can satisfy both meat and non-meat eaters.
A few of our favorite picks?
Instead of mixing bacon bits into a Potato Salad, serve ‘extras’ in a bowl on the side like bacon bits, chopped scallions and my dad’s favorite –finely diced chilli peppers.
We often serve baked beans for a super easy side. A savvy tip is to used canned vegetarian baked beans and mix in a big squeeze of mustard while they are simmering on the stove to make them taste homemade.
Quinoa Salad. I usually take cooked & cooled quinoa (made in my rice cooker) and toss it with some sliced olives, diced tomato, cucumbers & feta. I shake fresh lemon juice with olive oil and a squirt of mustard in a small jar until it creates a simple dressing, then toss it in and serve. Simple, delicious and packed full of protein for you vegetarian (and non-veg) guests. If you are leaving out the feta or olives, make sure to sprinkle in some salt to make sure all the flavors come out.
Since I am South Indian, Lemon Rice is a staple at our BBQs. It goes really well with burgers, chicken and hot dogs and is a simple treat on its own.
Mom’s Lemon Rice in 5 easy steps –
1) Spread 4 cups cooked (and cooled) rice into a large glass baking dish. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and a half cup of lemon juice. Mix evenly.
2) Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan then add two dried chili peppers, 1 tspn of mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 4 tablespoons of dried channa dal (yellow split peas), 4 tablespoons of peanuts (optional).
3) Stir for just a few minutes until the split peas are lightly brown.
4) Turn the heat off. Add a tablespoon of turmeric powder into the pan and mix well.
5) Pour this mixture over the rice. You can always add more lemon juice and/ or salt to your taste. Mix well and enjoy!
Vegetarian BBQ Guest: A Note About Beer
Did you know that many commercial beers are made with casin and other animal byproducts? If isinglass is listed on the beer ingredient list for instance, serve it to a meat eating friend, since isinglass comes from fish. But if the beer is flowing, a safe offering is always German beer. They have a “purity law,” called Reinheitsgbot, in which the only ingredients allowed are water, barley, hops and yeast. However, for any BBQ it is always gracious to offer non-alcoholic beverages such as ice tea or homemade lemonade.
Vegetarian BBQ: Friendly Sweet Treat!
Nothing tops a great barbecue meal like a sweet treat. We do love pies and brownies (generally vegetarian friendly options). But nothing screams “decadent” like firing up the grill to make dessert. After scrubbing the grill clean, place halved and pitted peaches on the barbecue. The juices in the fruit will caramelize after just a few minutes. Serve the warm fruit with a drizzle of honey or homemade whipped cream for a healthy, yet luxurious end to the meal.
Making a barbecue gathering vegetarian friendly doesn’t have to be daunting. We do it all summer and through the fall. When in doubt, simply ask the guest what they prefer. Move over meat, there’s room for a lot of veggies on the barbie.
This post was originally published on Saffluence.