Guide to a remarkable veggie BBQ

When you think barbecue, do complicated preparations, too much meat and not healthy enough come to mind? Well, don’t be fooled because it is possible to prepare simple, delicious, vegetarian and healthy meals on the barbie. This vegetarian BBQ guide will help you choose the right veggies, show you the proper cooking techniques, great seasoning and delicious sides to ensure that your meatless barbecue is a hit!

Which veggies for the BBQ? 

Choosing and preparing

Lots of veggies are perfect for the barbie, so choose according to your own tastes. Even frozen veggies work well on the grill. Read our Barbecue Veggie Rescue! article to learn more.

You can’t cook all veggies the same way when barbecuing. Depending on the kinds of veggies, preparation should vary. The way they’re cut will change the results. Here are a few tips for cutting veggies like a pro..

But not all veggies need to be cut. Some can be kept whole, then prepared after they’re cooked. That’s mainly the case with mushrooms, corn, asparagus and beans, the latter of which must be trimmed.

 

whole vegetables

Most veggies are easy to prep for the barbie. Let’s start with the classics: peppers, tomatoes, onions, carrots, cauliflower. Cut peppers and onions in half or quarters. Keep cherry tomatoes whole and cut regular tomatoes in half. Cut carrots in half lengthwise or into rings and separate cauliflower into florets.  

classics vegetables

For squash and eggplants, it’s a little different. You can cut them lengthwise either in half or in quarters or you can cut them into round slices.

squash and etcLeafy veggies can also be cooked on the barbecue. Endive and radicchio have to be cut in half, quarters or eighths lengthwise. Kale leaves must be removed and romaine lettuce can be prepared either way.

 

 

leaves
In the mood to try something different? Artichoke, leek and fennel are original options for the barbecue. They’re also easy to prepare. Slice artichoke and leeks in two lengthwise, making sure to separate artichoke leaves before cooking. For fennel, cut the in half after removing the stems.  

different vegetables

Seasoning and marinades

After cutting the vegetables, you have two choices before cooking: marinating or seasoning them quickly. Like meat, you can put what you want in a marinade for vegetables, tofu or tempehHere’s a little formula to remember for your next vegetarian barbecue :

marinade formula

The acid ingredient could be vinegar or lemon juice. Salt can be replaced with soya sauce and marinating time is between 20 minutes and 12 hours. For good seasoning combos for your veggies, check out our herb and spice guide.

It’s easy to make your own marinades and sauces for the BBQ. Here are a few recipes for inspiration during grilling season :

Thaï BBQ Marinade

Raspberry Maple BBQ Sauce

Spicy Ginger BBQ Sauce

Lemon BBQ Sauce

Red Wine BBQ Sauce

Whiskey Marinade

Spicy Orange Teriyaki Marinade

Honey Mustard Marinade

Louisiana Best Marinade

Herb Marinade for Vegetables

Homemade barbecue sauce can also be used as a marinade for veggies and plant proteins! Try this recipe and feel free to marinate your favourite veggies, tofu, tempeh or cheese.

How to cook veggies on the BBQ?

There are many options available to you when it’s time to cook food on the barbecue: cooking directly on the grill, skewers, en papillote, in a wok, on a pan or on a plancha.

Directly on the grill

The least complicated technique is cooking directly on the barbecue grill. Not all food can be cooked this way, but many veggies and proteins do very well on the grill.  

If veggies are chopped as described above, grilling them this way will not be a problem. Most veggies take between 5 and 10 minutes. Need inspiration? Check out these recipes :

Baked Sweet Potato on the BBQ

Marinated Grilled Vegetables with Whipped Goat Cheese

Lemon Grilled Zucchini

Grilled Zucchini, Tomatoes and Feta

There are lots of other techniques than cooking directly on the grill. Continue reading to discover them all.

Skewers

BBQ vegetable skewers

Credits : Fraîchement pressé

Another really simple technique to prepare food for the barbecue is to make skewers. You can use metal or wood sticks. If you use wood, don’t forget to soak them beforehand so they don’t burn while cooking. You can also use the marinades mentioned above. Veggies that cook the best on skewers are bell peppers, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and zucchini. You can also make skewers with asparagus, beans and even Brussel sprouts!

Here are a few veggie skewer recipes:

Grilled Vegetable Kebabs

Rainbow Veggie Skewers

Baby Bella Vegetable Kebabs

Asparagus and Tomato Skewers

Grilled Mushrooms on Skewers

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pine Nuts and Parmesan

Everything to know about papillote

papillote-légumesDon’t want to complicate your life? Papillote is a good option for cooking veggies on the barbecue. Frozen veggies work really well cooked this way. For more information, consult our Guide for Cooking Frozen Vegetable on the BBQ or our Cooking tips and tricks.

The papillote technique is pretty simple and you can adapt it to your liking. Simply choose vegetables with similar cooking times, chop them properly, add your favourite marinade and seasoning before wrapping them in tinfoil. For a little variety, try these different papillote recipes :

Foil Grilled Garlic and Leeks Potatoes

Grilled Summer Veggie and Cheese Foil Pack  

BBQ Party Foil Pack

Trends: Barbecue work and plancha

Papillote is a practical option that people love. However, new trends and techniques are on the rise. Now it’s possible to grill veggies with a grill basket or a BBQ wok. These barbecue accessories let you roast veggies and get a smoky flavour unlike steaming them en papillote. Most veggies take about 20 minutes in a BBQ wok. Frozen vegetables are ideal for this cooking technique and cook in 10 or 15 minutes. Baby potatoes are also delicious this way. Just boil them for 10 minutes, then cook them in the wok for another 10 minutes so they’ll be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Like a regular wok on the stove, there are many recipes for barbecue woks. Here are a few examples that will make you want to get one for yourself!

Grilled Marinated Veggies

BBQ Stir-Fried Vegetables

BBQ wok grilled maple vegetables

Credits : Le coup de grâce

Grill baskets and barbecue woks are available in grocery stores, outdoor accessory stores and at some other stores. They cost between $10 and $30.

A technique long-used in Spain, the plancha has made its way here. In some regions in Europe and the US, this method is quickly replacing grill cooking. This new type of barbecue lets food cook on a cast iron, steel or stainless steel plate. As there is no contact with flames, you avoid burning food with this process. You get even heat distribution, durability of product life and easiness to clean which all make it a wise choice. In Canada, plancha-type barbecues are less popular, but you can find hybrids equipped with a grill and a plancha surface

It’s also possible to cook food a la plancha even if you don’t have this kind of barbecue. By putting a baking sheet or aluminum plate directly on your barbecue grill, you can get similar results. Here are a few examples of cooking veggies a la plancha with a regular barbecue :

Grilled Asparagus Medley

Grilled Mushrooms with Goat Cheese, Beetroot and Walnut Salsa  

To really understand the cooking techniques of en papillote, BBQ woks and a la plancha using frozen vegetables, watch our tutorial.

Meat substitutes: tofu, tempeh and much more!

Want to show your friends what a real veggie barbecue is or want to lower meat consumption? In addition to vegetables, tofu and tempeh work really well on the barbie. You can also make vegetarian sausages and burgers yourself.

Tofu

Tofu cooks really well directly on the grill and it doesn’t take much more time that veggies. For a delicious crispiness, count 10 to 15 minutes, turning once. Here are a few recipes ideas :

Perfect Grilled Tofu

Vegan Blackened Grilled Tofu

Cilantro Lime Grilled Tofu

Tofu skewers

Credits : Destination santé

You can also make tofu brochettes with delicious results.

Try one of these suggestions and see for yourself :

Tofu Vegetable Kebabs with Peanut Sauce

Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Tofu Recipe

Easy Vegan Tofu Satay in Coconut Sauce

Smoky Grilled Tofu with Hoisin Sauce

Tofu and Vegetable Skewers

Vegetarian Tandoori Tofu

Tempeh

Prefer tempeh? This protein is as easy to prepare as tofu. See how with these recipes :

Honey Lime Grilled Tempeh Skewers

BBQ Tempeh Skewers

Veggie Burgers

Veggie burger

Veggie burgers are so popular it’s hard to say just how many recipes there are. You can even create your own! Vegetables, legumes, tofu, quinoa : the only limitation is your imagination! Need inspiration? Try these recipes on the barbecue :

Veggie Burger

BLT Sandwich with Tofu Bacon

BBQ Chickpea Burgers   

Easy Grillable Black Bean Veggie Burger

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger

Chipotle Veggie Burgers

Crispy Tofy Burger

Red Lentil Cauliflower Burger

Vegetarian sausages

Instead of buying already-made vegetarian sausages, why not try making them yourself? You’ll get a result made just for you and you’ll know exactly know what’s in them.

Homemade Vegan Sausages

7 Homemade Vegan Sausage Recipes

Recipe ideas that are original and easy

For those who love barbecuing, it’s always fun to try new recipes. A meatless barbecue is so much more than just veggie brochettes. Different vegetarian dishes and side dishes can perfectly be cooked on the barbie. Check out original concoctions that you can make to impress your friends and family!

Halloumi

Halloumi, what’s that? It’s a cheese in brine from the Island of Cyprus that’s made from sheep’s and goat’s milk. Semi-firm, it’s slightly salty and resistant to heat making it perfect for barbecues and salads. You can find it in most grocery stores. Try these recipes and see just how easy it is to cook halloumi :

Halloumi Vegetable Skewers Recipe

Grilled Peach and Haloumi Salad

Watermelon and Grilled Halloumi Barley Salad

Baked Brie

Grilled berry brie

Credits : Fraîchement pressé

It’s not just halloumi that can be grilled. Brie is another option. Melted brie in the oven is good, but if you’re like me and prefer not to use the oven during summer, we’ve got the right the solution for you. Here are a few baked brie recipes for the barbecue :

BBQ Brie from here

Grilled Raspberry Brie

BBQ Baked Brie

Brie Melt with Pecan, Cranberry and Maple Syrup

Grilled Cheese

Green goddess grilled-cheese

Credits : Taste Spotting

Love grilled cheese sandwiches, but didn’t know you could make them on the barbecue? Most melted cheese sandwich recipes can be made just as easily on the grill as in a pan. We suggest these recipes that are a little out of the ordinary :

Tomato Avocado Grilled Cheese   

Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled Brie and Pear Sandwich

Caramelized Onion Apple Grilled Cheese

Pizza

Pizza on the barbecue? Yup, it’s definitely possible! Try these two recipes and you’ll see your barbecue in a different light!

Pepper Onion Artichoke Arugula Pizza on the BBQ

Chickpea Flatbread Pizzas with Jalapeno Plum BBQ Sauce

Sides

When you’re in the mood for barbecue, you can do more than just make main dishes. It isn’t complicated to prepare appetizers and sides on the barbie to enjoy the summer weather. Read our article Rethink your Mixed Grills: Sides that are out of the ordinary for other original ideas for side dishes. Here are some options for sides that can be prepared quickly on the grill or in the kitchen.  

Appetizers

For delicious bruschetta, try this recipe : Grilled Cherry Tomato Bruschetta  

These dips are perfect with crackers, chips or bread :

Asparagus Mango Salsa

Spinach Dip

Smoky Black Bean Dip

Grilled Eggplant Pepper Dip

Want to impress your guests? Try this Roasted Chickpeas recipe!

Roasted chick peas

Credits : Pulse Canada

Salads

Grilled vegetables salad

Credits : Cath cuisine

Summer means salad season is here. Refreshing and easy to prepare, they make good sides for barbecues. Make salads with grilled veggies for a welcome change.  

Warm Potato Salad with Grilled Lettuce

Balsamic Grilled Vegetable Salad

Pasta Salad with Grilled Zucchini and Olives

Grilled Avocado Salad

BBQ Cauliflower Salad

 

Even without grilled veggies, other salads can be a great accompaniment for your grilled meals :

California Vegetable Tabbouleh  

Chick Pea Brocoli and Apple Salad with Caramelized Pecan

Creamy Brocoli Salad

Easy Carrot Salad

With Fruits and Vegetables

Salads make great salty-sweet combos. Try salad recipes with both fruits and veggies.

Here are just a few :

Cherry Tomato Peach Corn and Arugula Salad

Beet and Berry Salad

Salade pêche et tomate

Tomato Peach Burrata Salad

With pasta

For a more filling salads, pasta or quinoa salads remain wise choices. There are a multitude of recipes at your fingertips.

15 Pasta Salad Recipes

Healthy Moroccan Style Quinoa Salad

With potatoes

South-West chipotle potato salad

Credits : Mamzelle Betterave

What would be a barbecue without the famous potatoes? There many ways to cook potatoes on the barbie. Try these recipes, you won’t be disappointed :

Chipotle Southwest Tater Salad

Flame On Grilled Potato Salad

BBQ Potato Roast

BBQ Roasted Baby Potatoes

Skewered Grilled Potatoes

Grilled Baked Potatoes

Desserts on the barbecue

Chocolate orange BBQ cupcake

Credits : Bob Le Chef

You want to finish your barbecue meal in style? Why not spoil yourself with a delicious grilled dessert? Desserts on the barbecue require little prep and are quick to make. Here are a few recipes to try this summer :

Grilled Peaches with Honey Almond Yogurt

Caramelized Grilled Pineapple  

Grilled Summer Fruit Kebabs Recipe

Honey Rum Grilled Bananas

Chocolate Marshmallow BBQ Bananas Recipe

Chocolate Orange Grill Cakes Recipe  

See all the options that you have for a vegetarian barbecue? Now you’ve got all the tools to make a veggie feast on the BBQ. Send us your comments and recipes.

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