BBQ ideas to accommodate everyone?

elphie754

So once again I have been put in charge of what food items will be served at a company bbq. I really want to try to be accommodating to everyone so looking for a few ideas. I know we have one gal who is allergic to nuts (so not going to buy those), another who is vegan (this one is the hardest for me because I really don’t know any vegan recipes), and several who a gluten free (that’s easy since I am too).

Thank you in advance everyone.

RAinWA

I just organized a weekend of food for my extended family with all the food restrictions that go with it (one keeps kosher, one is vegan, one has some weird rules about what processed food they will eat - you get the idea).

I found it easiest to do things that were "build your own" type stuff. Tacos one night with a variety of toppings, did burgers and hot dogs one night including beef dogs, turkey dogs and tofu dogs.

Black bean and corn salad was a big hit with everyone as was potato salad.

deannalfisher

could you do it more as a every one brings a dish - or are you looking to have it catered? if you do it as a shareable dish - then the vegan could bring their own dish to share; but i would def. make the overall caveat no nut based dishes...

elphie754

deannalfisher wrote: »

could you do it more as a every one brings a dish - or are you looking to have it catered? if you do it as a shareable dish - then the vegan could bring their own dish to share; but i would def. make the overall caveat no nut based dishes...

They don’t really want it to be a bring your own type thing since they don’t want the employees to have to spend money for the bbq. So basically they gave me a company credit card to buy anything reasonable for the event, and want me to get a few volunteers to cook what we buy, if that makes sense.

acpgee

I used to BBQ a lot for a mixed crowd of friends including vegetarians and vegans. Put some of the vegan options on early (such as baby gem salads) to keep keep the carnivores satiated while they wait for meat to be done. It's best to do the vegtable options early as they can take the high heat of a newly lit fire.

Vegan BBQ options:
-asparagus, portabello mushrooms, green peppers, shallots tossed in olive oil
-halved baby gem or romaine salads and halved tomatoes drizzled with olive oil on the cut side and grilled cut side -serve grilled salads with blue cheese sauce for vegetarians and balsamic vinaigrette for vegans
-grilled Cambodian corn, but use soy instead of fish sauce for vegans, here is a recipe wihen I google Cambodian Corn: https//tarasmulticulturaltable.com/pot-ang--cambodian-grilled-corn
-grilled halloumi cheese for vegetarians

I've never tried this but you might toss Indonesian tempeh in vegetable oil and BBQ for the vegans. It might need a to be tossed in a BBQ sauce for flavour after grilling.

elphie754

acpgee wrote: »

I used to BBQ a lot for a mixed crowd of friends including vegetarians and vegans. Put some of the vegan options on early (such as baby gem salads) to keep keep the carnivores satiated while they wait for meat to be done. It's best to do the vegtable options early as they can take the high heat of a newly lit fire.

Vegan BBQ options:
-asparagus, portabello mushrooms, green peppers, shallots tossed in olive oil
-halved baby gem or romaine salads and halved tomatoes drizzled with olive oil on the cut side and grilled cut side -serve grilled salads with blue cheese sauce for vegetarians and balsamic vinaigrette for vegans
-grilled Cambodian corn, but use soy instead of fish sauce for vegans, here is a recipe wihen I google Cambodian Corn: https//tarasmulticulturaltable.com/pot-ang--cambodian-grilled-corn
-grilled halloumi cheese for vegetarians

I've never tried this but you might toss Indonesian tempeh in vegetable oil and BBQ for the vegans. It might need a to be tossed in a BBQ sauce for flavour after grilling.

Those sound great.

I’m not 100% certain about certain foods being vegan or not. Would a tricolor pasta, mixed with tomato, olives, cucumbers and Italian dressing, be vegan? Or I could make a tomato, cucumber, and olive salad?

deannalfisher

are there any local catering companies you could work with? they are pretty good about planning meals with specific requirements?

or local deli/supermarket that can do made to order salads etc? for catering events

elphie754

deannalfisher wrote: »

are there any local catering companies you could work with? they are pretty good about planning meals with specific requirements?

or local deli/supermarket that can do made to order salads etc? for catering events

I could look into a few, but I feel like catering may send the event over budget.

acpgee

elphie754 wrote: »

acpgee wrote: »

I used to BBQ a lot for a mixed crowd of friends including vegetarians and vegans. Put some of the vegan options on early (such as baby gem salads) to keep keep the carnivores satiated while they wait for meat to be done. It's best to do the vegtable options early as they can take the high heat of a newly lit fire.

Vegan BBQ options:
-asparagus, portabello mushrooms, green peppers, shallots tossed in olive oil
-halved baby gem or romaine salads and halved tomatoes drizzled with olive oil on the cut side and grilled cut side -serve grilled salads with blue cheese sauce for vegetarians and balsamic vinaigrette for vegans
-grilled Cambodian corn, but use soy instead of fish sauce for vegans, here is a recipe wihen I google Cambodian Corn: https//tarasmulticulturaltable.com/pot-ang--cambodian-grilled-corn
-grilled halloumi cheese for vegetarians

I've never tried this but you might toss Indonesian tempeh in vegetable oil and BBQ for the vegans. It might need a to be tossed in a BBQ sauce for flavour after grilling.

Those sound great.

I’m not 100% certain about certain foods being vegan or not. Would a tricolor pasta, mixed with tomato, olives, cucumbers and Italian dressing, be vegan? Or I could make a tomato, cucumber, and olive salad?

Not sure about the tri-colore pasta as it might contain egg. Safest to do a tomato, cucumber, olive salad eventually mixed with some vegan grain such as quinoa.

elphie754

acpgee wrote: »

elphie754 wrote: »

acpgee wrote: »

I used to BBQ a lot for a mixed crowd of friends including vegetarians and vegans. Put some of the vegan options on early (such as baby gem salads) to keep keep the carnivores satiated while they wait for meat to be done. It's best to do the vegtable options early as they can take the high heat of a newly lit fire.

Vegan BBQ options:
-asparagus, portabello mushrooms, green peppers, shallots tossed in olive oil
-halved baby gem or romaine salads and halved tomatoes drizzled with olive oil on the cut side and grilled cut side -serve grilled salads with blue cheese sauce for vegetarians and balsamic vinaigrette for vegans
-grilled Cambodian corn, but use soy instead of fish sauce for vegans, here is a recipe wihen I google Cambodian Corn: https//tarasmulticulturaltable.com/pot-ang--cambodian-grilled-corn
-grilled halloumi cheese for vegetarians

I've never tried this but you might toss Indonesian tempeh in vegetable oil and BBQ for the vegans. It might need a to be tossed in a BBQ sauce for flavour after grilling.

Those sound great.

I’m not 100% certain about certain foods being vegan or not. Would a tricolor pasta, mixed with tomato, olives, cucumbers and Italian dressing, be vegan? Or I could make a tomato, cucumber, and olive salad?

Not sure about the tri-colore pasta as it might contain egg. Safest to do a tomato, cucumber, olive salad eventually mixed with some vegan grain such as quinoa.

Oh geez. Totally forgot about the eggs in pasta.

SCoil123

One of our local shops sells vegan hot dogs. Do you have anything like that nearby?

In our house my husband is lactose intolerant, I’m gluten free, and both teenagers are vegetarian. When we grill we usually do a meat option for the adults, veggie dogs for the kids (bought the vegan by accident once), green salad, potatoes salad, and maybe something sweet. There is always something for everyone

apullum

You need protein for the vegans. Marinated tofu and veggie kabobs can be put on the grill easily. The tempeh idea sounds delicious, but I think tempeh is a bit more challenging if it’s your first time cooking it—I steam mine first. Even if you just get some vegan Boca patties, it’s better than not having a solid protein option.

elphie754

SCoil123 wrote: »

One of our local shops sells vegan hot dogs. Do you have anything like that nearby?

In our house my husband is lactose intolerant, I’m gluten free, and both teenagers are vegetarian. When we grill we usually do a meat option for the adults, veggie dogs for the kids (bought the vegan by accident once), green salad, potatoes salad, and maybe something sweet. There is always something for everyone

I’m not 100% sure, but maybe our local butcher carries something like that. If not, will ask my best friend google lol.

acpgee

I would organize my BBQ as such if I needed to provide vegan options, which meat eaters usually tear into while they are waiting for meat:

-halved baby gems or romains drizzled cut side down in olive oil, grilled cut side down, and served with vinaigrette, ranch or blue cheese dressing
-halved tomatoes drizzles in olive oil cut side down and grilled cut side down
-asparagus tossed in olive oil (easiest in a plastic bag)
-Camodian corn

Most BBQ parties involve salads such as potato salad, or lentil salads, so just make sure the sides are vegan friendly. It's easy to replace umami hits with vegan alternatives such as capers or pitted olives.

Cbean08

Instead of pasta, offer a quinoa salad and a bean salad. You can mix black beans, red bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, taco mix, avocado, mango and peanut oil. The beans would be a nice alternative to baked beans, which usually contain pork.

Vegan is no animal products - no dairy, no eggs, no meat, no seafood. Some vegans say no honey too. There are plenty of dishes that are vegan and will appeal to the masses. For salads, use an oil based dressing, not a cream based one.

Then just do burgers on the grill. It's easy and affordable.

For appetizers/sides

crackers with cheese
hummus dip (vegan)
fruit and veggie trays (vegan)
potato wedges (vegan)
corn (no butter, vegan)
grilled zucchini (no butter, vegan)

strongerbytheday

BBQ chicken
Burgers and hot dogs
Black bean burgers
Vegan Baked beans
Corn on the cob
Baked potato bar with all the fixings
Green salad with vinnegarette
Watermelon
Strawberry shortcake for dessert, you can regular and vegan whipped cream.