Top 4 Best Vegan Barbecue Dishes

The upcoming warmer months are highly awaited this year, so you should make sure you have a few incredibly delicious barbecue recipes at the ready.

Main image by András Fehér from Pixabay

In just a few weeks, cookouts and backyard barbecues will become a habit again, and by the summer season, it will be your main dinner option for sure!

First of all, cooking outside is not just fun; it allows you to minimize the heat from your in-house stove and oven (click here to learn even more benefits of outdoor kitchens). 

Secondly, grilling allows you to cook healthy yet tasty meals with less time and effort! Besides, when it is so hot outside, you may want lighter dishes - it is when vegan BBQ recipes come in handy.

Below, you will find meatless, mostly gluten-free ideas for your summer feast that require no more than 30 minutes to be done!

Jamaican Jerk Eggplant Steaks

This recipe will become your personal crowd-pleaser and will even appease the taste of those prejudiced towards eggplants.

Besides, it is super quick and easy! To prepare a marinade with a bold Jamaican flavour, you will need:

● three scallions, minced

● four garlic cloves, minced

● one jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced

● 1 tsp of ground cinnamon, coriander, black pepper, and freshly grated ginger

● 2 tbsp. of thyme, maple syrup, and vegetable oil

● 3 tbsp. of fresh lime juice and soy sauce

● a sprinkle of ground nutmeg and allspice

Slice 2 medium eggplants into steaks, brush with olive oil and grill each side on medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the ingredients to prepare the marinade, but make sure to moderate saltiness and spiciness according to your taste.

When the eggplants are ready, serve them with Jamaican sauce, fresh parsley, and a side dish of your choice aside. Viola!

Grilled Veggie Skewers with Tofu

This recipe is a perfect choice for a summertime cookout and can be easily moderated depending on what you have at hand at the moment.

There is no such thing as a good or bad combination for veggie skewers, but the mix of sweet and savoury flavours is always a win-win option.

For example, opting for sweet potatoes, red onions, mushrooms, corn, cauliflower, and bell peppers will allow you to gather all the summer tastes on one stick!

When you come up with vegetables, make sure to add some plant-based protein to your meal - marinated tofu is your go-to.

As for the additional seasoning, sticking to classics - olive oil, salt, and pepper according to your taste - is the best possible choice.

When the skewers are assembled in layers, grill them at medium heat for at least 15 minutes, regularly turning them to cook evenly.

You can serve your veggie skewers with vegan BBQ sauce to infuse the smoky flavour even more or pick something more fresh, intense, and summery - like chimichurri dressing. Grilling has never been healthier!

Portobello Mushrooms Veggie Burgers

Portobello mushrooms are thick and meaty, making them a great alternative to beef and a delicious choice not only for vegetarians and vegans but also for meat-eaters.

Besides, this vegan burger option is entirely gluten-free, compared to other meat substitutes - such as seitan. For one serving of this veggie burger, you will need:

● Portobello mushroom cap

● two thick slices of a red onion

● two thin slices of a tomato

● half of an avocado, thinly sliced (can also be smashed)

● baby spinach

● half of a bell pepper

● a burger bun of your choice

Mix together vegetable oil of your choice, soy sauce, vinegar, rosemary, and your favourite steak seasoning to prepare the marinade that will enhance the umami flavour.

Grill your mushrooms at medium heat for about 7 minutes on each side or until they are soft. Meanwhile, grill onion slices and bell pepper and toast a burger bun - it should not take longer than a minute.

When all ingredients are tender and ready, start assembling your healthy burger, mixing grilled and fresh veggies under one bun for an incredibly flavorous combination. 

Congrats, you have found one of the very best vegan BBQ recipes!

Perfectly Grilled Corn on the Cob

You can hardly imagine a vegan barbecue (let's be honest - a regular one, too) without grilled corn.

 When properly prepared, it bursts out of the sweetness and declares the pure taste of summer. While traditional recipes slather grilled corn with butter and sprinkle with salt, there are some more delicious ways to serve it!

Before you place your corn on the preheated grill, here is a little secret: if you are going to grill your corn in husks, make sure to soak it in the water for at least 30 minutes (and up to 8 hours) first.

It will allow husks to become fully saturated. Then, it will take only 15 minutes to cook the corn on the cob!

If you seek some new recipes to diversify the dressing, consider mixing the softened butter with the following ingredients:

● fresh basil, salt, and pepper

● smoked paprika, dry mustard, crushed red pepper flakes, and ground bay leaves

● chilli or cayenne powder with honey

● chopped mango with habanero seeds

● roasted garlic

● sugar and cinnamon

There is no need to limit yourself to just one dressing only!

You can opt for a couple of options (the fruit one is highly recommended!) that will make your corn on the cob the main star of this summer feast, but ensure the traditional one is also available.

Conclusion

Who said vegan barbecue could not be fulfilling? With the variety of seasonal fruit and veggies and plant-based protein sources, you will be able to create several main courses and side dishes bursting out of flavours and nutrients!

One of the best things about grilling is that you can grill nearly everything - a sprinkle of vegetable oil and basic spices will do the job.

Besides, it will allow you to reduce your calorie intake and improve your eating habits without forcing yourself; you may not even realize how you contributed to this.

Vegan, vegetarian, and meat-eater - everyone can benefit from food prepared with love, so make sure you have plenty of ingredients!