Grilling Beyond the Meat: Creative Recipes for a Vegetarian BBQ

Increasingly, vegetarians are finding satisfying and delicious ways to nourish their appetite for hearty grilled fare. Vegetarian BBQ is growing in popularity as a healthy and delicious option, fit for an enlivening meal on a warm summer sunset or weekend afternoon.

Here, we’ll provide several mouth-watering ways to spice up your palette and bring a new meaning to eating out (without going any farther on your patio!). All it takes is a few simple grilling tools, which you’ll find at your friendly neighborhood hardware store.

Grilling Vegetables to Perfection

The best vegetables for grilling are those that remain firm when heated. Alternatively, you can use fine-mesh or flat grilling trays. To get you started, this tried-and-true recipe for balsamic grilled vegetable kabobs:

1. Create a balsamic vinegar and olive or avocado oil marinade, seasoned to taste (rosemary, sage, and coriander create a delightful summer atmosphere). Our grilling section has a handy “salad dressing maker,” complete with premeasured markers at just the right ratio. Alternatively, you could use your favorite vegetarian BBQ sauce.
2. Chop, into large portions, any carrots, beets, bell peppers, whole pearl onions, pre-boiled baby potatoes, tomatoes, or any other vegetable of choice.
3. Drench your assortment of veggies in the marinade for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight.
4. Skewer the marinated veggies, then grill, turning at least once, until the kabobs develop picture-perfect grill lines. Two skewers per guest is a good portion, especially if serving other items.

Innovative Veggie Burgers and Sausages

Modern veggie burgers and meatless sausages are more delectable than ever. Be sure to choose the firmest varieties, or use a closed tray just in case. Consider searing the burgers with high heat to firm them up, then reducing the heat as they cook to perfection.

You could also try your hand at homemade black bean burgers. Mash black beans into a paste, mix with a flour of choice (for a binder), oil, or water as needed, and add a mixture of zesty, aromatic spices. We recommend Mexican chipotle style, good ol’ steak seasoning, or you can find a bespoke seasoning blend in our kitchen section.

Other homemade black bean burger options involve experimenting with mashed potato, dried (not fresh) mushrooms, egg replacers, and aquafaba (the leftover bean juice). For simulated “gristle,” try adding chopped walnuts to the outside of each patty.

Grilled Fruit: A Sweet (And Sometimes Savory) Surprise!

Believe it or not, the grill is just as amenable to dessert. Grilling fruit caramelizes the sugars, resulting in a sweet and smokey flavor profile. For a sweet twist to an even sweeter sunny day, try these to-die-for vegetarian BBQ desserts:

• Beefsteak tomatoes, either whole and right on the grill, or with large, skewered halves/quarters.
• Cinnamon-honey grilled peaches – the perfect summer delight (mango is another great alternative). Don’t forget your favorite yogurt or whipped dip!
• Quartered watermelon “steak,” best with tamari or a tangy Asian sauce (you’d be surprised at the hearty texture that develops, but it’s all in the timing).
• Pineapple – nothing fancy required! Just set it and grill it. Optional: glaze with maple syrup.

BBQ Tofu and Tempeh Steaks

Tofu and tempeh are highly versatile meat alternatives that are perfect for grilled veggie steaks. Cut the soybean product of choice into thick strips, marinade as you would vegetables, and grill it to taste!

Like veggie burgers, take precautions to prevent the raw ingredients from falling apart, and your best bet is searing the tofu or tempeh on at least one side before cooking it further. This achieves just the right texture, and many prefer their tofu steaks chewy, but giving.

Grilled Pizza: A True Crowd Pleaser, Bar None!

For a vegetarian grilled delight simply no one can resist, consider grilled pizza. Best accomplished with a circular or larger grill, nothing beats the satisfaction of homemade dough and personalized toppings (you’re better off with a deep dish style, and store-bought crusts are usually too thin).

Unless you’re going vegan, you have the same cheese options as regular pizza. Otherwise, you can try a creamy cashew or soy-based cheese, though take care not to overdo it, and add non-dairy cheeses towards the end of the cooking time (usually about 15 minutes, total).

Deluxe Grills for Delectable Summer Vegetarian Fare

Thinking of lighting up the grill and hosting an unforgettable vegetarian BBQ this summer? Don’t let carnivores have all the fun. Stop by Clark’s Ace Hardware for the finest grills in Ellicott City and Columbia.