10 Vegan Summer Side Dishes To Bring To A BBQ Or Picnic

From plantbasednews.org

These sides work for picnics, barbecues, and garden parties 

Whether you’re heading to a BBQ, packing a picnic, or planning an easy dinner in the garden, a few good vegan summer side dishes can make the whole meal feel more complete. The best warm-weather sides are fresh, colourful, easy to share, and simple enough to make ahead, from pasta salads and chickpea dishes to grilled skewers, dips, and crispy potatoes.

These vegan summer side dishes are made for sunny days and outdoor eating. They pair well with plant-based burgers, grilled vegetables, tofu, salads, and picnic spreads, and many can be served cold or at room temperature. Here are 10 vegan side dishes to bring to your next BBQ or picnic.

Curried chickpea salad

Romy LondonScoop up this high-protein chickpea salad with crackers of choice

Starting this list is this curried chickpea salad by Romy London. It combines chickpeas, curry powder, vegan mayo, celery, apple, and raisins for a creamy, crunchy dish with sweet and savoury flavours. Make it ahead and serve it chilled.

Find the recipe here.

Vegan watermelon and feta salad with balsamic glaze

Romy LondonIf you fancy a refreshing side, make this watermelon and feta salad

Romy London’s vegan watermelon and feta salad brings together juicy watermelon, cucumber, red onion, rocket, mint, and crumbled dairy-free feta. A herby lemon dressing and balsamic glaze add sharpness and make the whole dish feel fresh and bright.

Find the recipe here.

Olive paste pasta salad

Natlicious FoodThis plant-based pasta salad is perfect for summer

This olive paste pasta salad by Natlicious Food gives classic pasta salad a savoury Mediterranean twist. It combines fusilli with seasoned tofu, cherry tomatoes, rocket, capers, spring onion, and olive paste for a filling dish with plenty of texture.

Find the recipe here.

Firecracker smashed sweet potatoes

BOSH!This smashed sweet potato recipe is tasty, nutritious, and protein-packed

BOSH! gives sweet potatoes a bold upgrade with this firecracker recipe. The potatoes are smashed, seasoned, and served with tahini chili crisp sauce, garlicky cannellini beans, baby spinach, Sichuan peppercorns, and sesame seeds.

Find the recipe here.

Cherry tomato and chickpea salad

Romy LondonThis salad is great for picnics

This cherry tomato and chickpea salad from Romy London keeps things fresh with juicy tomatoes, chickpeas, herbs, and a simple dressing. It comes together quickly and adds colour, protein, and brightness to the table.

Find the recipe here.

Tofu and apple skewers

Jazz AppleThese tofu and apple skewers are perfect for BBQ season

These tofu and apple skewers put a fresh spin on plant-based grilling. They pair tofu with apple, red onion, and red pepper, then coat everything in a tamari, miso, maple, lemon, and sesame oil marinade.

Find the recipe here.

Parmesan pickles with pickle juice hummus

BOSHYou’ll either love or hate this pickle dish

This recipe from BOSH! turns pickles into a crunchy sharing dish with homemade dairy-free parmesan and pickle juice hummus. Cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, chickpeas, tahini, and pickle juice create a salty, tangy snack with plenty of bite.

Find the recipe here.

Pesto cauliflower bites

Natlicious FoodTurn cauliflower into a moreish snack with this pesto bite recipe

Natlicious Food keeps cauliflower simple but flavourful in this pesto cauliflower bites recipe. The florets are roasted with olive oil, garlic granules, and cornflour, then tossed with pesto, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast.

Find the recipe here.

Smoky sweet potato salad

Dreena BurtonTry this sweet potato black bean salad with a hint of lime and spices for a perfect summer lunch

Next, try this smoky sweet potato salad by Dreena Burton. It combines roasted sweet potatoes with black beans, bell pepper, cucumber, herbs, lime juice, cumin, smoked paprika, and chipotle hot sauce. It’s hearty, colourful, and packed with smoky flavour.

Find the recipe here.

Vegan macaroni pasta salad

Elaine GordonThis macaroni pasta salad is perfect for picnics

Finally, try Elaine Gordon’s vegan macaroni pasta salad for a colourful take on a warm-weather classic. It mixes elbow pasta with grape tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, green onions, parsley, vegan sour cream or mayo, vinegar, maple syrup, and garlic powder.

Find the recipe here.

https://plantbasednews.org/veganrecipes/snacks/vegan-summer-side-dishes/

3 Vegan BBQ Sauces to Fire Up Your Summer

From plantbasednews.org

Turn up the flavour this summer with three irresistible vegan BBQ sauces 

No summer cookout is complete without a good vegan BBQ sauce.

Whether you’re brushing it over grilled vegetables, layering it on a plant-based burger, or serving it as a dip, barbecue sauce is a seasonal staple. Larisha Bernard, known for the YouTube channel she runs with her husband, Make it Dairy Free, has shared a video where she explains how to make three vegan BBQ sauces that are perfect for summer.

Bernard, a popular recipe developer and content creator, has built an audience with her vibrant plant-based cooking and family-friendly approach. In the video, she says, “I don’t know about you, but I am a hundred percent a sauce girl… If sauce is involved, I want it, and I want a lot of it.”

Each sauce starts with a familiar base and then takes on a different personality as ingredients are added: classic, fruity with blueberries, and sweet-and-spicy with peaches and habanero.

Classic vegan BBQ sauce

                                          Which BBQ sauce will you pick: smoky, fruity, or spicy? - Media Credit: YouTube/Make It Dairy Free

Bernard begins with the foundation: a traditional barbecue sauce that’s rich, tangy, and smoky. She sautés garlic in olive oil before adding ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, vegan Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup, lemon juice, Liquid Smoke, and spices. The mixture is stirred until smooth, then left to simmer so the flavours can “marry together in a little bath,” she says.

For those who prefer a faster or oil-free version, Bernard offers a shortcut. She explains that you can skip the stovetop entirely by swapping fresh garlic for garlic powder and whisking everything in a bowl or jar. “It still tastes really, really amazing,” she says.

Blueberry BBQ sauce

The next recipe takes a creative turn by incorporating fruit. Bernard stirs blueberries into the same base ingredients, creating a sauce that is both sweet and savoury. “The sweetness from the blueberries mixed with the savouriness of the barbecue sauce just does something absolutely amazing,” she says.

She cooks garlic, adds the remaining ingredients, and folds in fresh or frozen blueberries before simmering the mixture. After about 20 minutes, she blends it all into a smooth consistency. If any blueberry skins remain, she suggests straining the sauce through a sieve for a velvety finish.

Peach habanero BBQ sauce

YouTube/Make It Dairy FreeThe peach BBQ sauce gets a spicy kick by adding a habanero pepper to the mix as it simmers

Bernard’s final recipe leans into summer produce with juicy peaches. She combines ketchup, vinegar, maple syrup, vegan Worcestershire, lemon juice, and spices like smoked paprika and dry mustard. Ripe, fresh peaches add natural sweetness, though frozen can work in a pinch.

The twist comes with heat: a whole habanero pepper is dropped into the sauce as it simmers. “This makes sure that it is a little bit of a kick but not so much that, like, my kids won’t eat this recipe,” Bernard says. The pepper is removed before blending, but for more spice, she advises slicing some into the sauce or blending it fully. The end result balances sweet fruit with smoky heat.

Bernard recommends storing the sauces in airtight jars in the fridge, where they keep for about two weeks. She also notes that they’re allergen-friendly, with substitutions available for Worcestershire sauce and oil-free options.

“These are three delicious vegan barbecue sauces that will keep you going all summer long,” she says.

For more creative vegan recipes, check out the Make it Dairy Free YouTube Channel.

https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/3-vegan-bbq-sauces-to-fire-up-your-summer/