Barbecuing for vegetarians - our top tips
Traditionally, barbecuing and vegetarianism don't really go hand in hand. However, there's no reason why vegetarians should miss out on that inimitable barbecue flavour - and no reason why catering for your veggie friends should be the least bit problematic!
It is estimated that there are as many as four million vegetarians in the UK. Here we look at ways to make sure they are well catered for - and well fed - at your next barbecue party...
Prepare plenty of options
When you are shopping for barbecue ingredients, you will more than likely head straight for the meat aisle, and if you've got vegetarians coming over, you'll pick up a packet of veggie burgers on the way out. Job done.
Of course, it never really comes into consideration that your guests may not like veggie burgers - but not all vegetarians do! It doesn't hurt to have a few other vegetable options - for starters grab some corn on the cob, peppers and courgettes, which work really well on the barbecue.
As well as vegetable burgers, there are meat-free burgers (i.e. Quorn and Soya) with various coatings such as southern-fried and meat free sausages ( Linda McCartney, Quorn and others) which come in a variety of forms. Don't forget you can also marinade and grill Quorn fillets - all these options should be available in good supermarkets.
Even if you haven't got vegetarians coming, it's not a bad idea to stock up on vegetables. They taste great on the grill, maybe with a little melted cheese, and offer a slightly healthier option to all that meat and barbecue sauce!
Cook meat separately
Not all vegetarians will mind you cooking their food on the same grill as the meat has been cooked on - but the vast majority will.
For this reason it's advisable to cook for the vegetarians first, while the barbecue is clean and free from meat products. Even if you separate the grill into two halves, one for veggie meals and one for meat, there is a fair chance of cross contamination.
Similarly when you serve the food, keep any vegetarian food separate from all the meat.
Serving fish? Check first
There are people who don't eat meat, but will still happily eat fish. Be warned though, staunch vegetarians won't! As such, serving up fish as a vegetarian option will more than likely leave you with egg (and possibly the fish) on your face.
It's always best to check with your guests beforehand what they will eat and what they won't, avoiding a sticky situation for them and for yourself.
Check your alcohol
After you've gone to the trouble of preparing a meat-free barbecue for your guests, don't let yourself down on drinks!
You may not know it, but alcoholic drinks such as beers, wines and spirits can contain gelatine and other animal products which make them a no-go for the strictest vegetarians.
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