Tis Memorial Day weekend yet again. This is the beginning of the true cookout/bbq/picnic season. And that means you'll inevitably be asking yourself "What do I feed that vegan I invited to the cookout/bbq/picnic?"
Before you start thinking that you don't know any vegans, let me throw this at you. Six percent of all Americans now identify as vegan. And many meat-eating folks are choosing vegan options when dining out for health, wealth and even compassion.
That brings us back to the get-together you are getting together. I suggest serving up some veggie burgers. There are tons of option in the frozen aisle of almost every grocery, and if you really want to stun your veg-head friends look for some Beyond Burgers (pictured up top). Or try some Beyond Sausage (pictured below), whose Italian and Brat flavors are sooooo damn good.
As for sides, making an oil and vinegar based coleslaw or potato salad isn't the worst thing in the world, and many times folks are eager to try something familiar-yet-new.
Here's a recipe to show you how easy that is:
Method:
That brings us back to the get-together you are getting together. I suggest serving up some veggie burgers. There are tons of option in the frozen aisle of almost every grocery, and if you really want to stun your veg-head friends look for some Beyond Burgers (pictured up top). Or try some Beyond Sausage (pictured below), whose Italian and Brat flavors are sooooo damn good.
As for sides, making an oil and vinegar based coleslaw or potato salad isn't the worst thing in the world, and many times folks are eager to try something familiar-yet-new.
Here's a recipe to show you how easy that is:
Sicilian Potato Salad
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
3 lbs. Red Skinned Potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks
1/2 each Red onion, sliced thin
1/2 each Fennel Bulb, sliced thin
1 lb. Green Beans, trimmed and cut in half
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 TBS Red Wine Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste
Method:
Boil the potatoes until soft. Pour the green beans into the bottom of a colander and drain the potatoes into it. This will cook the beans just enough that they are not raw.
Set aside to cool (they will dress better with the salad dressing if they are not all the way cool when you work with them.)
Mix the sliced onion, fennel, and cooked vegetables together. Pour over the olive oil and vinegar and season with the salt and pepper.
Cool before eating.
See that? Easy peasy. Also 3 Bean Salad (or, as I keep challenging my cousin's wife to add more beans to hers, 8 Bean Salad) is also vegan and really good.
Once you've provided at least one entree and a side or two, most vegans will be incredibly grateful. If you're not sure what to serve them for dessert, ask them to bring something. Often that will be a revelation for you! (Blueberry cobbler with coconut oil instead of butter, anyone? Delicious!) Plus Ben and Jerry's has dairy-free flavors now, so there is no excuse not to have something sweet for the veg-heads (Dagnabbit, now I've got the Coconut 7-Layer Bar on the brain!)
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