Summer Meals and Outdoor Eating
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Posted by Jill Harris Jul 3, 2008 |
For everyone who can get out and enjoy the great summer weather, there are plenty of tasty vegetarian and vegan dishes to barbeque, take to a potluck or serve to a crowd. Summer is about fresh food and easy preparation – who wants to be in the kitchen all day with warm weather outside?
Grilling Ideas
Vegetarian grilling is less messy, healthier, and faster than grilling meat.
Try grilling something new, like
- Vegetarian burgers, or great burger substitutes like garden patties or portabello mushrooms. For people who miss meat, try vegetarian spareribs, sausages or hot dogs.
- Something new from the refrigerated or frozen food section of the supermarket
- Seasonal vegetables next to the burger to complete a no-fuss meal.
Salad Recipes
Nothing highlights seasonal flavours like a salad. Add protein like beans or tofu to make them a full meal. Try
- Strawberry recipes, including a dee-lish strawberry-feta salad (and an easy no-cook dessert or two)
- Greek salad
- Pasta salad with chickpeas
- Bean salad with garden vegetables
Easy No-Cook Dessert Ideas
- Fresh fruit with whipped cream or vegan whipped topping (and chocolate sauce, why not?)
- Watermelon slices
- Grilled peaches
- Strawberries in balsamic vinegar (add a touch of sugar)
- Strawberries or berries and ice cream
- Vegetarian smoothie or milkshake served with a straw
- Fruit trifle or pudding
Handy Tips
It’s easy to provide vegetarian and vegan options at a picnic, barbeque or outdoor dinner. Here are some additional tips to make sure things run smoothly and are as delicious as possible:
- Refrigerate perishables like salads and cheeses before serving
- Pack wet and dry ingredient separately if they are going to sit for very long
- Garnish dishes with seasonal garden herbs like chives or parsley (but don’t limit yourself to these!)
- Shuck corn or prepare vegetables outside, where trimmings can go right into the compost bin
- Keep meat on the grill separate from the vegetarian dishes to avoid cross-contamination, and scrape the grill well after cooking meat