Vegetarian and vegan recipes to impress with this summer

From picnics to barbecues, we’ve got all the recipes you need to wow your vegetarian or vegan family and friends this summer

Whether we finally get a sustained warm spell, or we just have to make-do with the odd sunny afternoon, what we do know is that eating outside is a must in the summer.

Both barbecues and picnics are dreamy options for those hazy, relaxed days. And while the carnivores amongst us have plenty of options to choose from, those following a plant-based diet can end up with some hastily bought veggie sausages or burgers.

But it doesn’t have to be that way, and as household purchases of meat continue to decline, it makes sense to make vegetables the star of the show.

Here are some of our most impressive veggie and vegan summer recipes that are perfect for sharing outdoors (when the weather allows).

Best for barbecues

First up, you can’t beat some barbecued Mediterranean-style vegetables. And Anna Shepherd has taken hers to the next level with a herby marinade and creamy almond sauce that packs both a flavour and protein punch.

A good plant-based burger for the barbecue needs to be a firm enough texture to not fall apart, but also packed with flavour.

Anna Jones knows how to pack flavour into plant-based food and her smoky carrot burgers are no exception. The carrots are roasted for optimum sweetness before being mixed with smoky tofu, spices, seeds and Parmesan for the ultimate veggie barbecue feast.

Skewers are another barbecue favourite and while halloumi or paneer are popular vegetarian choices, tofu or seitan are great vegan options. You just need to pack in flavour with a marinade, like these tofu tikka skewers from Dr Rupy or these seitan skewes with a punchy satay sauce.

Looking for something a bit different? How about these barbecued loaded sweet potatoes with charred red onions and feta? Or this barbecued cauliflower salad?

And no barbecue would be complete without coleslaw, you could use vegan mayo in this coleslaw recipe or go for something a bit more fancy like Nigella’s sweet and sour slaw.

Perfect for picnics

Quiches are an incredibly popular picnic staple for a reason – they can be eaten hot or cold and you can easily tailor them to your taste preferences. We highly recommend this cheese and onion quiche which is superior to shop-bought versions. If you’re running short on time, you could always use a roll of pre-made shortcrust pastry.

There’s also nothing quite like a sausage roll at a picnic and those on a plant-based diet don’t need to be left out. There are now plenty of vegetarian sausage roll recipes which come with different fillings including Mary Berry’s jumbo lentil rolls and red pepper ricotta puffs.

You could of course whip up a batch of falafels, or a vegan filo pie. You could even opt for a vegetarian scotch egg.

Not forgetting the salads! Pasta salads travel well and won’t wilt in the summer sun. We love this pesto pasta salad. Or you could add some pasta to a classic Greek salad to make it a bit more filling. Or this antipasti orzo salad is a brilliant way to use up any jars of antipasti you have in the fridge.

When it comes to vegan salads, adding fruit and nuts is a great way to bring texture and flavour, like in this couscous salad. Beans are also a great way to add protein to a vegan salad, like in this avocado salad or this black bean salad.

As you all dig into these creative vegetarian and vegan options, even the biggest carnivores will forget all about the meat.

Originally published July 2024