by Patty
BBQs make for a great opportunity to explore different ways of cooking food, but a lot of the time we leave out the vegetables or they are a bit of an afterthought. If you’re not including vegetables in your BBQ repertoire yet, this article is for you! Put down your usual veggie or fruit platter purchased at the grocery store and don’t bug your mom for her delightful pasta salad recipe that you enjoyed as a kid because it was loaded with mayo. There is another way for you to rock those veggie BBQ side dishes like a boss.
Next BBQ, razzle dazzle them with your own creation or a twist on your favourite classic. Your vegetarian friends will love you because they get to eat, and your other friends will be impressed and want to pick your brain about the complicated measures it took to create that delicious dish with vegetables. Don’t worry my friend, you don’t have to be a professional chef to impress. All you need is a little creativity and a knife.
Here are some ideas to dazzle your friends, veggie lovers, and carnivores alike.
Coleslaw: Ditch the mayo and make things interesting with a vinaigrette dressing instead of a creamy one; your vegan friends will love it. All you need is some cabbage, carrots, radish, and maybe some shredded beets. I have even added homemade sauerkraut to mine. It’s pretty delicious.
Veggie Kabobs: You could go classic with veggie kabobs but put a spin on it by marinating the veggies in a yummy sauce of your creation. Remember to save some of that sauce to serve on top for an extra kick.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: All you have to do is roast them in the oven with some balsamic vinegar, sea salt, and pepper. You can also add grapes and walnuts and some Parmesan cheese. Alternatively, you can wrap them in tin foil and stick them right in the BBQ.
Corn on the Cob: Forget boiling or steaming these puppies; add some herbs and spices and place directly on the grill or wrap in tinfoil. Flavours like butter, lemon juice, dill, Parmesan, or even blue cheese are great company. You won’t regret it, and neither will your tastebuds.
Potato Salad: Forget the standard potato salad recipe with mayo and yellow mustard. Get creative and daring by using yogurt, garlic, and dill for the dressing. Tired of regular potatoes? Try mixing it up by using sweet potato or yam. The ingredients you already have in your kitchen are endless and so are all the recipes on the internet.
Lettuce: Grill it, do it. Get a head of romaine cut in half lengthwise, throw some flavour on it (spices, oils, cheese) and just go nuts.
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