Crack open the beers, get the charcoal glowing\u2026 it\u2019s barbecue season! Depending when you\u2019re reading this, of course! Barbecues are synonymous with summer in Britain, even if the weather doesn\u2019t always cooperate. But does the unstoppable rise of veganism threaten British barbecue culture? Are great BBQs incompatible with plant-based eating? Not a bit of it.<\/p>\n
There are loads of fantastically tasty vegan-friendly options that are perfect for the barbecue. This article is perfect if you are having a barbecue and you don\u2019t know what to serve your vegan friends (other than bread and salad). Or, indeed, if you are a vegan who fancies some inspiration for the next time you\u2019re trying some garden-grilling gastronomy.<\/p>\n
Using wild rice as a base for a salad can work very well, especially with chopped walnuts, chard or other flavoursome leaves and some roasted beets.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Melon Salads<\/td>\n
Using watermelon, Galia melon or cantaloupe melon in your salads exudes a taste of summer. Adding citrus, butterbeans, avocados, spring onions and perhaps a few jalape\u00f1os, and you\u2019ve got yourself a fine salad combo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Vegan Potato Salad<\/td>\n
There wasn\u2019t a barbecue in the 1980s or 90s in the UK that didn\u2019t have a massive vat of potato salad in attendance \u2013 most of which was left at the end! But if you fancy knocking up this old favourite, simply use vegan-friendly mayo instead of the usual stuff, and Bob\u2019s your mum\u2019s brother.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Vegan \u2018Slaw<\/td>\n
This is an excellent accompaniment to any barbecue, and it\u2019s unlikely anyone will realise it hasn\u2019t been made with real mayonnaise. Just mix together shredded cabbage (it\u2019s good to have some red and either some green or white) with some shredded carrots, in vegan mayonnaise; then throw in some fresh parsley, some cider vinegar, a bit of vegan-friendly mustard, some salt and pepper and some celery seeds, give it a good stir and, voil\u00e0, you have your vegan \u2018slaw.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Vegan Desserts on the Barbecue<\/h3>\n
Grilled pineapple with vegan ice cream<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It\u2019s often the case that people pig out (for want of a better expression) to such a degree at a barbecue that the thought of scoffing a dessert is far from their minds. But if you want to cater for those with a sweet tooth, here are some quick and easy vegan-friendly dessert options for you.<\/p>\n
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Vegan Desserts<\/th>\n
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Barbecued Pineapple Slices<\/td>\n
This is a great option as pineapples roast beautifully well over hot coals, forming a caramelised crust that is accentuated by the slight charring.<\/p>\n
It pays to use a fresh pineapple rather than the tinned stuff. It can be served as it comes or with vegan ice cream and\/or a drizzle of maple syrup.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Barbecued Vegan-Chocolate Bananas<\/td>\n
An old favourite and for good reason. Simply slice a banana lengthways and while still in the skin, stuff in some vegan-friendly chocolate buttons of your choice, wrap in foil and place directly on the embers (once they have cooled a little towards the end of their barbecuing life). After 10 minutes or so, carefully unwrap and tuck in.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Fruit Salad<\/td>\n
After a whole lot of stodge, a fruit salad can be a great, light dessert at a barbecue. Obviously, it doesn\u2019t need cooking, and it can be prepared in the morning or even the day before and put in the fridge before serving it to anyone who wants a cleansing bite after their seitan steaks.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Vegan Ice Cream<\/td>\n
Vegan-friendly ice cream is getting better all the time, and even Ben & Jerry\u2019s have some vegan options available. Our pick of vegan ice creams at the moment is the Caramel Pecan Praline flavour from Booja-Booja (though we\u2019re always happy to sample alternatives!).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Vegan Barbecue Etiquette<\/h2>\n
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If you are hosting a barbecue and some of your guests are vegan, there are few things that might help things run smoothly. Here are a few dos and don\u2019ts to ensure the vegans at your event feel the love.<\/p>\n
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The Dos & Dont’s of Vegan Barbecue<\/th>\n
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DO offer vegans more than salad & bread<\/td>\n
Just take a look at all the vegan-friendly barbecue options above\u2026 many of which are cheaper than meat options!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DON\u2019T encourage vegans to eat meat<\/td>\n
Most vegans don\u2019t really appreciate people trying to reintegrate them into the world of flesh-eating. They\u2019ve made their choice, accept it. With a smile.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DO plan, plan, plan<\/td>\n
It\u2019s worth having a chat to your vegan friends prior to the event to see if there are any particular things they fancy or things to avoid. You don\u2019t want to have stocked up on seitan steaks and ribs only to find out on the day the guests follow a gluten-free diet!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DON\u2019T point out the beer they are drinking isn\u2019t vegan<\/td>\n
Another thing sure to raise the heckles of vegans is when people see it as their duty to analyse everything they eat or drink in the hope of catching them out with something that isn\u2019t 100% vegan.<\/p>\n
If someone hands a beer to a vegan at a barbecue, it is possible they will take a sip without studying the label. If they do, give them a break! Luckily, there are plenty of vegan drinks available, so why not stock up on them in advance?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DO use different implements<\/td>\n
If at all possible, use different implements when handling meat and meat-free items on the barbecue. Some vegans might be fairly chilled about this, but others will not.<\/p>\n
Ideally, using different barbecues if you have more than one, or different grill racks if using one barbecue is advised. It makes sense from a food hygiene perspective anyway. At the very least, reserve one portion of the BBQ (grill) for vegan-friendly items only so all your hard work preparing vegan kebabs isn\u2019t undone by having them covered in meat juices.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DON\u2019T ask them to mind the chicken wings for you while you go to the toilet<\/td>\n
Some vegans are not going to be all that keen tending to sizzling chunks of bird flesh while you are otherwise engaged. They are generally kind souls though, so in all likelihood, they\u2019ll be happy to go to the fridge and get the beers in!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DO let vegans pick the music<\/td>\n
Everyone knows* vegans have a much better taste in music than non-vegans (*This is not based on any scientific research at all).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DON\u2019T feed vegans meat \u201cfor a laugh\u201d<\/td>\n
Those of a sadistic nature might think it amusing to serve vegans a real meat burger in the guise of a meat-free burger. It is not amusing. In the same way that workers at your favourite burger joint spitting in your real meat burger is not amusing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DO buy some vegan-friendly drinks<\/td>\n
Vegans don\u2019t just drink water & almond milk, so why not stock up on a few bottles of vegan wine to help get the party started?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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DON\u2019T let the non-vegans eat all the vegan-friendly food<\/td>\n
Many of the vegan-friendly barbecue options are so tasty that it is likely the non-vegans attending will sample them and then go back for more.<\/p>\n
Obviously, the vegans won\u2019t be lapping up the burned chicken wings that are left behind, so don\u2019t let the non-vegans eat all the tasty vegan morsels before the vegans have had their fill. Or of course, you could just cook loads of vegan-friendly options and then everyone\u2019s happy!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Now you\u2019re armed with the vegan-friendly barbecue options and the vegan barbecue etiquette to go with it, all you need now is the charcoal, booze and the sunshine. Roll on barbecue season! And, here is a delicious vegan barbecue to get you in the spirit of things…<\/p>\n