It’s Memorial Day weekend, and you are making plans for your famous annual barbeque. You pride yourself as a meat-grilling master Jedi, but just when you are ready to break out the recipe for your secret rub, you find out that there will be vegetarians present. What are you supposed to do to accommodate these oddballs? Don’t panic. You can still wow your meat-eating guests with your robust marinades while being a good host to vegetarians, too. Here are some simple ways to accommodate vegetarians at your Memorial Day barbeque.
Image: Basykes (Flickr)
Much to the carnivore’s surprise, accommodating vegetarians is pretty easy. Vegetarians are generally prepared when they attend a meat eater’s barbeque to fend for themselves anyway. Your vegetarian guests probably plan on bringing their own veggie burgers or fish (if they are pescatarians) to your barbeque. If you are the type of host that likes to be prepared and cater to everyone, here are some great meat alternatives for you to have on hand for the grill no matter what your barbeque style is. You may even be surprised to see your meat-eating friends enjoying these vegetarian options too.
If you are grilling hamburgers
If you are having a casual hamburger grill-out, you don’t need to go to great lengths for your vegetarian friends. Large portabella mushroom caps make a great hamburger alternative. Best of all, you can season them or marinate them in your own fabulous hamburger spices so your vegetarian friends can be equally impressed. Pescatarians will also appreciate a well-prepared, grilled salmon burger. Of course, you can always find frozen veggie burgers at your local grocery store if you don’t feel like preparing extra stuff. Keep in mind that veggie burgers and portabella mushroom caps do not need much time on the grill compared to the real hamburger patties you are cooking.
If you are grilling hot dogs
You can find vegetarian hot dogs at almost any major grocery store. They are also known as “veggie dogs” on the packaging. Vegetarian hot dogs, like most processed soy products, do not take long to cook on the grill. You can find a variety of vegetarian hot dogs including vegetarian bratwurst and even vegetarian Italian sausage. If you shop at Kroger or Publix, you will easily find these products in the refrigerated health food section. Keep in mind that you are not limited to these soy alternatives. Guest can fill up their hot dog buns “hoagie style “with a vegetarian stir-fry. Put some red peppers, onions, mushrooms, chopped-up tofu or tempeh in some aluminum foil on the grill. Topped off in the hot dog bun with sprouts and some good dressing, these will make a perfect meat alternative.
If you are grilling chicken or steak
Pescatarians love a good tuna steak or a flavorful salmon fillet. You can dress up a tuna steak or salmon fillet in the same glaze or marinade that you plan on using for your regular steaks. For strict vegetarians, you have some other options. Go to the health food section of your grocery store and look for the firmest tofu you can find. It may say “extra-firm” but if you see “firm as a brick,” get that one instead. You can also use tempeh, a tougher, grainier soy product. Slice the tofu or tempeh into flanks and marinate them in your secret sauce. Tofu takes on whatever flavor that you apply to it. Many recipes exist for creating the perfect tofu steak. Some involve mixing it with bread crumbs or cornmeal for the right consistency. Just remember that soy products take a fraction of the time to cook as your regular steaks.
If you are grilling shish kebabs
Vegetarians love shish kebabs. As long as you have plenty of veggies in your shish kebab lineup, you don’t need to do anything else. Don’t forget to include a variety of vegetables and even fruit. Pineapple, tomatoes, peppers and onions are great, but you can also include Japanese eggplant, mushrooms, potatoes, zucchini, squash and of course, marinated tofu or tempeh for added protein. Also, shrimp and scallops make a great seafood option for meat-eaters and pescatarians alike.
If you are grilling a whole pig on a spit
Please warn your vegetarian friends. They may decide to eat before they come to your house or they may decide to not come at all.
April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin.
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