8 Alternative BBQ Foods For This Summer
The sun is finally out, you’re done with exams, and now all you want to is sit back and celebrate. How else are you going to do that than with a barbecue?
If you’re tired of the same old, meat-heavy BBQ foods, then look no further. The world wide web has many recipes to help you jazz up your summer cooking, and we’ve collated a few of them to guide you on your way to a happy grilling.
1. Potatoes
Potatoes can be a stodgy, boring food – but if they’re cooked properly and seasoned well, they can become an essential part of a meal. Cooking your potatoes on the grill, making sure they are wrapped in foil first, gives potatoes another way to taste great. Sweet potatoes are renowned for their naturally delicious flavour, and make fantastic bases for vegetarian meals, as burgers or on their own.
2. Corn on the cob
This is the closest we’ll ever get in this article to staple BBQ foods; although many people do eat corn on the cob already, it may be fun to prepare it differently, and add it to different meals. If you don’t usually grill corn on the cob, then this could be the perfect way to add more naturally sweet flavours to your meal – without costing your health.
3. Halloumi
A BBQ wouldn’t be right without a bit of halloumi!
If you’ve never had halloumi as a BBQ food before, then you are in for a treat. Halloumi has become an essential ingredient for cooking, with or without meat, because of its versatility as a cheese. Its ability to withstand higher pressures, such as BBQs, means you’ll get to see it cook unlike other cheese, which would melt too quickly.
4. Seafood
If protein is still your main concern when cooking a BBQ, why not try to grill seafood instead? It may be a little different to what you’re used to, but if you’re skilled with a skillet then it will be worth a try. Prawns and lobsters are typical seafood that translate well onto the grill and are safe BBQ foods for pescetarians.
5. Mushrooms
A must-have for many vegetarians, mushrooms can provide the substance to a meal that you would otherwise lack without the meat – especially at a BBQ. Portobello mushrooms can also be used as a ‘burger’ instead of meat and bread and could replace equivalents like sweet potato burgers. If not, then other mushrooms are just as delicious when grilled, and go well with meat-heavy or meat-free alternatives.
6. Vegetable skewers
Vegetable skewers are always going to be a success. Having kebab skewers means you can pick and choose which vegetables you’d like to grill, so everyone is satisfied. If you’re not keen on vegetables that are cooked normally, this may be a way to bring more vegetables into your diet as the grill brings out a sweetness to these BBQ foods, particularly for vegetables like onions and peppers.
7. Halved courgettes
Courgettes can be tragically underused in meals, but in this way, they can be the star of the show. Halving a courgette and grilling it as a base for the smaller BBQ foods uses up the vegetable very efficiently, and ensures that you get a sweet-tasting base.
8. Fruits
Yes, even fruit! Desserts can be grilled too!
By combining different fruits, such as mango, peach and pineapple, and grilling them gently, you can really bring out all the delicious flavours we know and love our fruits for. Pair with ice cream for a truly divine experience.
