Burgers can be made vegan quite easily, and most of the sides at a summer picnic are naturally vegan anyway. A quick online search will bring you to some fantastic ideas. Here are some recipes for summer sides, veggies on the grill and a delicious burger.
The Sides
Pasta salads and potato salads are great vegan additions to the picnic table. They work well for everyone, and they are expected! You can get vegan mayo, or Nayonaise, at your local grocery store.
Veggie skewers with chimichurri sauce from Minimalist Baker — think of bell peppers, onions, potatoes and sweet potatoes, portobello mushrooms, and a little salt and pepper. Don’t forget the chimichurri sauce for some pizzazz.
The Burgers and Mains
Mushroom and black bean burgers from ilovevegan.com are sure to be a hit!
Here is a very adaptable base recipe for a vegan burger from BBC Good Food. Once you make the chickpea patties, you can add whatever you like to the mixture just as you would with ground beef. The patties include shallots, chickpeas, celery, tomato paste and parsley, flour and polenta for texture.
Grilled cauliflower steaks are easy, and you probably already know this one! Slice a whole cauliflower to steak size. This means large, and about an inch thick. Brush on the barbecue sauce and grill about five minutes per side.
Yes, summer barbecues are great places to go meatless. It’s a good idea for everyone, vegan or not, to be meatless for at least one day, and to be more conscious of what they are eating. There are so very many recipes available for meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike. Summer picnics where everyone brings a little something means everyone can experiment a bit and try their way around new ways of eating! Enjoy and share.
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