Vegan bbq food for guest?

Question

i am planning a bbq this summer, and would love to invite my cousin, who is vegan. i really have NOOOO CLUE where to start food wise, other then grilling peppers, and maybe marinated portabllla. is there n e thing else i can make her (stuff with some abundance as well, shes pregnant, and loves food right now lol) i would also grill her food on a seperate piece of tin foil, that way no meat juices get in her food... any suggestions for recipies or sites?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can definitely grill all of the fruits and vegetables that everyone else has mentioned, separately as you say. Make sure you clean the grill well, or perhaps someone can bring one of those small patio grills just for her food.

You could also try grilling tofu or tempeh, but that can be a daunting endeavor for people who aren't used to marinating and grilling these things. You may want to stick with the "easy" stuff when it comes to the grilling.

For example, you may also want to grill some meat substitutes for her. Amy's, Boca, Morningstar Farms, and Yves are among many companies that produce vegan veggie burgers (as opposed to the ones with egg whites in them). There are lots of vegan hot dogs out there, including some from Lightlife, Soy Boy, and Tofurky. Tofurky also makes all kinds of vegan sausages, like bratwurst. Most of these items can be found at places like Whole Foods, independent health foods stores, and sometimes well-stocked supermarkets.

(Just make sure that whatever you pick up is vegan. Some of these companies do vegetarian versions as well as vegan versions of their products. If you're going through all of this effort, you want to make sure that you get the right things. Nothing with egg whites or dairy derivatives like casein.)

I'll include a link that will give you some more ideas for products that you may want to consider grilling. This article is from a few years back. They published a newer version earlier this year with only vegan products, but it isn't online yet. If you contact the VRG, they'll gladly copy it and send it to you, though.

Of course, there are other things you can serve as well. Vegans eat things like chips that are baked or fried in sunflower oil (often available in the natural foods section) and salsa or hummus. Make a salad that doesn't have cheese, non-vegan croutons, or bacon bits, and have a variety of dressings for people to choose from. Vegan dressings, such as balsamic vinaigrettes, are easy to find. If you make a potato salad, make a bit just for her with some Veganaise (vegan mayo). Same thing with a pasta salad, though you'd have to make sure the pasta doesn't have eggs.

Don't forget the dessert! You can always go with sorbet, which everyone will go for, or items like vegan cookies, such as Fig Newman's. The meateaters won't even know the difference!

My final suggestion… If all of this sounds like too much of a hassle for one person, you may want to just pick up something specifically for her from a local vegan-friendly restaurant. Look at places like Happy Cow for suggestions in your area.

Good luck! And she'll love you forever for going out of the way for her!

Answer 2

On the foodnetwork they did loaded potatos on the grill stuffed w veggies or anything else those looked yummy!!

grill potato clean out the inside of it and stuff w squash and zuchini and carrots and garlic.

I think they had the stuffed w barbq beef and cheese also for regular guest.

Answer 3

Grilling veggies on top of tinfoil doesn't work very well because it has no contact with the grill and just sits there cooking slowly in dry heat You could do a veggie hobo pack with potatoes, peppers, onion, corn, southwestern seasoning and olive oil.  The tinfoil is closed so the food will stay moist and won't be directly exposed to meat splatters and smoke.

Make a Latin black bean salad as well.  That can be her protein and others will also enjoy it.

Answer 4

If she is the only vegan guest coming to your party do not cook just for her. Cook the way you normally would and let her bring her own vegan foods to be cooked.

Answer 5

First, I gotta say that I think it's awesome of you to have something appropriate for your vegan guest to enjoy!  I recently went to my sister-in-laws for a BBQ (an hours out of town), and had I not brought my own food there would have been NOTHING for me to eat.  So good on you for being so thoughtful!  *applauding enthusiastically*

I'm drooling over the thought of grilled peppers and portabella mushrooms, and I'll bet your cousin will love it too!  You could also make a cold pasta salad with rotelle, kalamata olives, tomato, onion, cucumber, peppers, and an italian dressing (just mix 1/4 cup each of olive oil and red wine vinegar, some S&P to taste, one clove of crushed garlic, and a teaspoon of each dried basil and oregano).  Also hummus and vegetables are a great starter.  These would do for all your guests, BTW... they're both vegan and omni friendly!

Bets of luck with your BBQ!

Answer 6

Grill corn on the cob. Grill a potato in it's jacket. Grill some skewers of food (mango, pineapple, mushroom, bell pepper and onion skewers, for instance). Have penne pasta available at the table with marinara sauce (plain tomato and spices sauce, no meat in it).

Answer 7

Veggie and tofu kebabs

Boca burger vegan burgers

Pasta salad

Grilled fruit

Fruit kebabs (goes great instead of a traditional fruit salad)

Answer 8

My favorite BBQ recipes:

Barbecued Tofu

    * 1 pound extra firm tofu, well pressed and sliced into 3/4 inch rectangles

    * 3/4 cup barbeque sauce

    * 3/4 cup brown sugar

    * 1 tsp chili powder

    * 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

    * 3/4 cup orange juice concentrate

    * salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together the barbecue sauce, sugar, chili powder, pepper and orange juice over medium low heat about 3 minutes.

Place the barbecue sauce mixture in a wide flat dish, and place the tofu in the sauce, coating both sides well.

Allow to marinate for at least two hours.

Grill for 4 or 5 minutes on each side, brushing with additional sauce.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper just before serving.

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Grilled Eggplant

    * 3 cloves garlic

    * 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

    * 1 onion

    * 2 tsp brown sugar

    * 2 tbsp lime juice

    * 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

    * 2 eggplants

In a food processor, process the garlic, cilantro, onion, sugar, lime juice and basil.

Slice the eggplant in thick, flat slices and place on grill, basting with the garlic, onions and herbs mixture, reserving half of the mixture.

Allow eggplants to grill for about 15 minutes, turning once.

Top with remaining onion and herb mix and serve hot.

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Grilled pineapple and coconut

    * 2 tbsp honey or agave nectar

    * 2 tbsp rum flavoring

    * 1 tsp lemon juice

    * 4 or 5 slices fresh pineapple

    * 1 cup flaked coconut

Whisk together the honey, rum and lemon juice in a wide dish. Add the pineapple and coat well. Allow the pineapple to marinate for at least one hour in the refrigerator.

Lightly grease your grill and fire up to a medium heat.

Coat the pineapple with coconut on both sides, pressing the coconut into the pineapple to get it to stick.

Grill on both sides for about 8 to 10 minutes.