I've been wanting to write a post like this for a while, and with summer getting closer and the weather warming up, I thought now is the perfect opportunity.
If you follow me on Instagram or have been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I've been a vegetarian since 2010 and nowadays try to follow a plant-based diet where possible.
Whenever my friends or family throw a barbecue they always ask me for tips on how to make sure I (and other veggies) can be catered to. Hopefully my advice will help you if you're in a similar situation! If you're looking for tips on how to throw a vegetarian and vegan-friendly BBQ then keep reading.
Veggie-friendly food
First of all, make sure you're buying the right food to suit your guests. Don't get vegetarian mixed up with pescatarian (or vegetarian mixed up with vegan).
- Pescatarian = no meat, but fish is ok
- Vegetarian = no meat, fish or other animal products (dairy and eggs are ok)
- Vegan / plant-based = no meat, fish, dairy, eggs or any other animal products, including things like honey
If you're catering for a lot of different dietary requirements then sometimes it's easier to get food that everyone (or most people) can enjoy. For example make sure all your veggie burgers are vegan-friendly, rather than buy separate vegan/vegetarian burgers.
My favourite vegetarian and vegan-friendly BBQ food:
- No Bull Quarter Pounder Burgers (vegan) available in Iceland
- No Porkies Burgers (vegan) available in Iceland
- Tofurky sausages (vegan) available in Holland & Barrett but I believe they're also sold in some Sainsburys
- Linda McCartney sausages (vegan) available in most major supermarkets
- Linda McCartney Mozzarella 1/4 Pounder Burgers (vegetarian) available in most major supermarkets
- Corn on the cob with sweet chilli seasoning (leave the butter off to make it vegan)
- Halloumi skewers (vegetarian) cut into cubes and alternate with courgettes, red onion and peppers
- Roast beetroot tastes incredible in a salad!
- Sweet potato skins cut into wedges, wrap them in tin foil and stick on the hot coals
- All the salad, breads, crisps, and houmous (always check labels as most will be tagged as vegetarian/vegan)
Most bread buns sold in supermarkets are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. If you're catering for vegan guests, just check the label to make sure egg and/or milk aren't listed in the ingredients. And be careful with whole-wheat and whole grain breads as they sometimes contain honey.
Don't forget about sauces! Heinz Tomato Ketchup is vegan and so are a lot of supermarket alternatives (just check the label or have a quick google before you buy). Sweet chilli sauce also goes down well with me; the original blue dragon one is delicious and suitable for vegans.
Cook veggie food separately (or use a different grill)
I personally don't mind if my food is cooked on the same grill as meat, as long as it's actually kept separate and meat juices aren't dripping all over my food.
However I know some people who hate this. I've been to barbecue's before where the host has bought a separate disposable BBQ to do veggie stuff and this worked really well. Make sure you have separate utensils to hand too!
It's also worth remembering that veggie burgers and sausages often cook quicker than meat, so make sure you check on them regularly to avoid a burning disaster.
Drinks
If you're asking people to bring their own drinks then this shouldn't be a problem, but I always think it's nice to have some in stock just in case. Not all beer and wine is veggie-friendly, and annoyingly the ingredients aren't always shown on the label. If you're unsure, the Barnivore website can help.
My favourite vegan-friendly beer is Brewdog Punk IPA which you can usually find on offer in most major supermarkets. Most Brewdog beers are vegan, other than a few which contain milk or honey.
If you're making cocktails then most spirits such as whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum are vegan, excluding cream-based liqueurs or anything which contains honey.
One final tip
Don't be afraid to ask if you're unsure. If I'm going to a BBQ I will usually check with the host beforehand anyway to see if they want me to bring my own food/drink. I'm always happy to do this, and will often bring extra just in case anyone else wants to try some.
Hope you enjoyed reading my tips! Have you ever thrown a vegetarian or vegan-friendly BBQ?
Image credits:
- vegetarian BBQ by Tessa Simpson on Unsplash
- Corn on the cob by Dragne Marius on Unsplash
- Heineken beer by Christian Gertenbach on Unsplash
Ooh I love this post! I’ve not actually done a proper BBQ since going vegan, and there’s loads of foods on this list that I’m just dying to try. This post is so helpful ☺️ X
Thank you, I'm so glad you found it helpful! It's definitely worth making a trip to Iceland, their vegan burgers are so good x
So helpful with the upcoming BBQ season upon us. I'd not considered drinks being an issue, I really need to get more informed
I'm not vegan or vegetarian but all these options sound delicious! I'm all for corn at a BBQ!
My daughter is vegetarian and I have several vegan friends so this is a great article! I am lucky that most of them ask if I want them to bring their food with them, but now I have a list of things I can choose from even down to the beer! Fantastic. All we need now is the Sun
These are some really helpful tips. We are planning on having a BBQ in the next few weeks and are not too sure on people's dietary requirements just yet so I'll be bookmarking this!
I've never thrown a vegan BBQ, I've done a veggie one before and that went down well. It sounds as if Iceland have loads of great options available. Mich x
I do love your ideas, my sister is pescatarian and often apart from fish and veg I struggle with what to have for her.
This is a great idea for a a vegan / vegetarian bbq. I'm a meat eater, but have greatly reduced the amount I eat. Saying that, I'd enjoy the items listed here, and will see if my local supermarket has any in stock!
This is such a great guide - especially with summer here! So many of my friends are vegan now, and it's definitely food for thought!
I am a vegetarian and I love barbecuing. Corn on the cob is so versatile for barbecuing as is tofu, paneer and veggies.
Oh I've never thought to do paneer on a BBQ. I love it in curries so I'll need to try this!
This is great to have a list. My daughter is a vegetarian and I often struggle to know what to do for a BBQ for her.
I might not be a vegetarian but those skewers look delightfully tasty.
Great post, especially as people move to a more plant based diet. I think BBQ season is a real challenge for people trying to make this change!
Great post. My sister is vegetarian and I can't eat dairy products (due to allergies), so we've had a few free from or meat free dishes at BBQs. Like you, I'll usually check with the host if they want me to bring anything (like free from cheese).