The Veggie Table: A Veg-Friendly Father's Day Barbecue
Sunday, June 20th is a day for dads, and that means grills will be fired up for backyard barbecues everywhere. Whether your father is an omnivore or carnivore, these veg-friendly BBQ ideas are sure to satisfy even the most meat-loving man. This year, you won’t have to give dad the usual tie, tools, or electronics to show him some love on Father’s Day. Instead, host a barbecue with these vegetarian Father’s Day feast ideas.
Grilled Veggie Kebabs: Grab a skewer and start stacking those veggies. Nothing is simpler than grilling giant chunks of eggplant, peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, corn and more. Meat-eaters in your family can stack on a few cuts of chicken or fish to their skewer and everyone is satisfied. Want to turn the flavor up a notch? Sprinkle on a homemade spice rub before grilling the kebabs. My favorite is this Classic BBQ Rub from Vegetarian Times.
Grilled Pizza: Move over, burgers and hot dogs: Pizza also deserves a place on the grill. While grilling pizza can take some practice, it is worth the trial and error. I usually start with some premade whole wheat pizza dough and roll it out to a thin crust. Next, you’ll want to brush one side with olive oil, and slap the dough on the grill. Brush the top side of the dough with more olive oil. When the bottom of the crust turns golden brown, flip it over and start tossing on toppings. The pizza can cook quickly, and closing the lid helps the cheese get all ooey and gooey. Top with some grilled veggies then grab a slice! You can also make grilled pizza with precooked crust.
Pasta salad: I can’t imagine a barbecue without any pasta salad, and my Sweet Miso Pasta Salad is a tried and true crowd pleaser. It’s got great color and crunch from the red and orange bell peppers and yellow corn, and is packed with protein and fiber from the whole wheat pasta and edamame. In fact, leftover Sweet Miso Pasta Salad makes a great lunch, so prepare extra!
Grilled fruit: Don’t turn the grill off before you serve dessert! Satisfy your sweet tooth with some grilled fruit. My favorites are grilled pineapple and peaches. Just slice and lay them on the grill until they begin to get those great grill marks. For an even sweeter treat, top your fruit with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
TELL US: What’s your favorite veg-friendly food to bring to a barbecue?
Janel Ovrut, MS RD LDN, loves experimenting with vegetarian and vegan cooking. Read her food blog, Eat Well with Janel, and follow her on Twitter @DietitianJanel. Catch up on her previous posts here.
