Grilling Vegan for Father’s Day

Cook up a healthy meal for your Dad to show him how much your appreciate him. Who knows, he might ask you to make it again the next time he visits!

I’m not quite sure when men became associated with grilling, but it seems to have stuck. Cooking on the grill doesn’t have to include meat and even if you’re cooking for a mixed crowd everyone will be glad there are a few veggie dishes.

To get non-vegans more interested in vegan grilling go beyond those pre-made veggie burgers and tofu dogs. Grill veggies ahead of time and put them in a quinoa salad with fresh basil dressing. Make kebabs with summer squash, onion, mushrooms, and bell peppers and baste them with your family’s favorite marinade.

Make a few of everyone’s favorite flavors like mushrooms with bbq sauce, grilled pineapple, or pizza. That way people who are new to soy foods or veggie burgers will have things to try that look familiar to them.

My favorite thing to do while the grill is still hot is to pop a whole eggplant on the grill and use it to use to make babaganoush or baingan bartha for another meal.

There are some great books on adding veggies into your cookouts. If your Dad loves grilling any of these will amp up his game and make a great Father’s day present.

Cookouts Veggie Style by Jolinda Hackett has goodies like grilled eggplant panini, stuffed portobellos, barley burgers on rye bread, even grill baked cranberry pear crisp.

John Schlimm’s Grilling Vegan Style gives us cedar smoked mushrooms, grilled corn with lime and pepper sauce, grilled cantaloupe with ginger and mint, not to mention  cocktail and mocktail recipes for you to sip on while you’re cooking.

The New Vegetarian Grill by Andrea Chesman brings us smoked veggie lasagna, sesame noodles with grilled brocoli and tofu, and a grilled tomato fennel sauce to slather on your favorite pasta (or pizza).

There are also great grill accessories aimed at veggie lovers. There’s a grill pizza pan, a grill wok, and even a kabob set that insures your kabob never sticks to the grill again.

Even if your Dad is a meaty guy you can still add a little veggie grilling into his life!