I just realized that Labor Day has finally approached us and I am stoked. For some it means heading back to school, for others, stashing away white clothes, for me, it means grilling.
I love BBQs and Labor Day is the perfect excuse to have one. While the smell of hamburgers and hot dogs is tempting… I MUCH prefer the delicious aroma of corn, portabella mushrooms, and veggie burgers cooking away.
There is no doubt that BBQs can be tricky or a little awkward for vegetarians with non-vegetarian company. What if there aren’t veggie options? How do I know what’s in the side dishes? How do I ask without being offensive or sounding pretentious? After too many anxiey-filled BBQs, I realized that a) my friends and family are aware that I am a vegetarian and won’t serve only meat-filled dishes, b) it’s nice and polite to bring a something anyways–so might as well make/bring a dish that I’ll enjoy, and c) it’s just as easy to bring my own veggie burger or portabella cap to throw on the grill (in tin foil of course). Problem solved.
And then there’s hosting. No biggie! There are tons of websites with great grilling ideas for vegetarians. My mom, sister-in-law, and I have had a lot of fun searching through them, collecting our favorites, as well as experimenting with our own creations. Below are a few that pretty consistently make an appearance. They may be rather plain jane, but classic and delicious nonetheless. Enjoy!
Vegetarian BBQ ideas:
1. Roasted Portabella Cap sandwiches— Cook portabella cap in tin foil with a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking and garlic, salt, and pepper. Tasty served with dijion mustard, red onion, and provolone or mozzarella cheese.
2. Quinoa salad
3. Caprese Salad—Layer tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic.
4. Vegetable and Tofu skewers—Alternate large chunks of your favorite vegetables: onion, pepper, mushroom, squash, sweet potato, extra firm tofu, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes. Brush with EVOO and season with garlic, salt, pepper, and pesto, or whatever’s your pleasure.
5. Homemade Veggie Burger (from Olympian Garrett Weber-Gale).
What are your grilling favorites?
Elizabeth 
