How to Throw the Best Vegan BBQ This Summer

 

Get your apron out of the cupboard, dust off those tongs, and pray for a sunny day: barbecue season’s back, and it’s time to grill up a vegan feast. Here’s all you need to know to make your vegan BBQ the greatest celebration of summer, all while being kind to animals:

    1. Set the Scene

We’re constantly looking for excuses to spend as much time as possible outdoors during the summer, and a BBQ is just about as good a reason as you can get – a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the working week. That’s why it’s important to set the scene just right, and that includes adding a few special touches to the outdoor space.

Lay out some wool-free blankets for guests to sit or lie on and deck out the space with soya candles – sheep and bees will benefit from your compassion!

If you don’t have enough reusable plates and cutlery for all your guests, opt for eco-friendly disposable options made from biodegradable materials like bamboo or paper.

Littering Kills

    1. Stock Up on Vegan Meat

From vegan chicken wings and burgers to vegan bacon and sausage rolls, there are countless animal-friendly meats available across the UK. With so many choices, it can be hard to know where to start, which is why we’ve put together a list of must-haves. Pick up these BBQ favourites to wow guests:

Hungry for more?

Guide to Vegan Meats

    1. Jazz It Up With Homemade Goodies

If you prefer to make things yourself or fancy impressing your guests with homemade delights, try one of these delicious recipes – or all three!

BBQ Tofu Wings with Ranch Sauce

This BBQ Tofu Wings with Ranch Sauce recipe is easy-peasy, but the results are fantastic. You can platter these up for your guests straight from the oven or throw them on the grill.

Vegan King Satay with Spicy Peanut-Ginger Sauce

Credit Eva Kosmos Flores

Meaty king oyster mushrooms make this dish a winner among both meat-eaters and vegans. The long, thick stems are sliced into chunky strips, skewered, and roasted, and a creamy, gingery peanut sauce brings it all together.

Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers

These Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers are perfect for a summer BBQ – and totally tasty! They’re healthy and easy to make. Pair them with guacamole and salsa for a burger feast.

Vegan Recipes

    1. Sides, Sides, Sides

For the full vegan BBQ experience, sides are essentials. To step up your BBQ game, why not try serving up a tasty salad – we’re big fans of a light Summer Quinoa Salad or a fresh Coronation Pasta Salad.

And while we love ketchup and vegan mayo as much as the next guy or gal, there’s nothing quite like adding a Roasted Beetroot Dip or some Spreadable Cashew Cheese to your BBQ line-up.

    1. Drinks

You simply can’t go wrong with a big punch bowl at a party, especially when the sun’s out. Here are some ways you can keep your BBQ cool, no matter how hot it gets:

Rest Easy, Beer Lovers: You can maintain a vegan lifestyle and still indulge in those frothy, delicious beverages – assuming you’re over 18, of course. These are some of our vegan summer BBQ favourites:

      • Asahi
      • Amstel
      • Blue Moon
      • Budweiser
      • Carlsberg
      • Cobra
      • Corona
      • Guinness
      • Heineken
      • Kronenbourg 1664
      • Twisted Barrel

Pop Some Prosecco: If you’re looking for a spirited way to celebrate summer, most supermarkets offer a wonderful selection of vegan wine and prosecco, and you’ll likely find a great offering at your local offie as well.

Iced Hibiscus Tea: All you need for this one are three to four bags of hibiscus tea, about 1.8 litres of cold water, a splash of lemon, and some sweetener. Pour the mix into a pitcher filled with ice, and voilà – you’ve got your iced hibiscus tea punch.

Fresh Lemonade: Buy some lemons, squeeze them into a large bowl filled with water, and add some ice cubes, sweetener, and slices of lemon. A summer classic!

Coconut-Water Mix: Pair coconut water with your favourite fruit juice for a refreshing drink that’s super-easy to make.

  1. End on a Sweet Note

Depending on your skills (and patience) in the kitchen, you can opt to bake a cake or make your own ice lollies. But there’s nothing better than loading your freezer up with some good old-fashioned vegan ice cream – and there’s so much to choose from.

Whether you’re after an Italian-style ice cream or coconut ice-cream sticks, you’ll find it all in our ultimate guide to vegan ice cream:

Vegan Ice Cream

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Did you impress your friends with your vegan feast? Challenge them to go vegan for 30 days! Send them a link to PETA’s vegan pledge or suggest ordering our free vegan starter kit to help them make the transition to a compassionate lifestyle.

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