With the warmer weather comes grilling season. The simple pleasure of dining outdoors, enjoying smoky grill flavors, is a highlight of summer. It’s also a great way to add variety to meal times, even when you’re cooking for one. The range of star-studded plant-based dishes that can be made on the grill is endless, from vegan burgers and “steaks” to veggie-centric sides, succulent grilled fruits, and amazing salads. Get out the barbecue and let these summer grill recipes fire up your inspiration.
By Lisa Esile, MS,
Add a wet sprig of sage or rosemary to hot coals as you grill squash and mushrooms, and watch the herb-flavored smoke make the yummiest side dish ever. Serve with a squeeze of grilled lemon.
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No need to mess around with highly processed vegan hot dogs when you discover the culinary magic that happens when you marinate carrots and grill them.
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Once you get used to eating grilled corn sans butter, you can really taste those sweet, tender niblets. Dial up the flavor even more with this spicy-tart rub: It’s divine.
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A tender, smoky grilled veggie steak is a great addition to any meal. Eggplant, cauliflower, butternut squash, sweet potato, and baby beets are just a few of the veggies you can have fun with.
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In this mouthwatering salad, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon are soaked in vinegar, grilled, and then chilled. Chopped pistachios add crunch and fresh basil gives the salad an aromatic lift.
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Using portobello mushrooms as veggie patties is a great no-fuss solution to vegan burgers. The meaty, tender flesh soaks up the tasty ginger-garlic marinade to delicious effect.
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Grilled peach halves, fresh blueberries, whole grain pasta, and peppery arugula come together in this stunning cold pasta salad topped with a lemon-mustard dressing.
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Add your own twist to this basic bean- and rice-based burger with additions like corn, olives, cilantro, chili, and spices. Serve on a whole grain bun or lettuce wrap, with ketchup and onion.
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With a few simple ingredients, this grilled salad with tangy cashew-cheese dressing is always a hit. If you’ve never grilled lettuce, it only takes 2 to 3 minutes, and you’ll wonder why you never did it before.
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Homemade plant-based burgers are packed full of goodness and a real treat for the whole family. This is a great basic recipe you can adapt to suit your tastes and what you have on hand.
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In this nourishing summer salad, corn, red pepper, zucchini, squash, and onions are grilled over high heat and served with fresh dill and Dijon Dressing.
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The succulent smokiness of seared pineapple adds an enchanting depth of flavor to this magnificent salad. Hint: Bookmark the strawberry dressing for when you need to jazz up another salad.
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Lisa Esile is an author, illustrator, blogger, vegetable gardener, and whole-food enthusiast with a special fondness for potatoes. She has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is passionate about showing people how to live happier, healthier lives. Lisa is the author of Reach your Big Calm and the co-author of Whose Mind Is It Anyway?.
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