Summer Grilling for Vegetarians - Quorn, Mushrooms and More!

Vegetarians - when was the last time you looked forward to a barbecue? Do you fear another summer of boring veggie burgers? Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles - are you confused about what to feed the vegetarian in your family this Fourth of July? The word "grill" need not be synonymous with "meat" any longer. This list of vegetarian delights for the grill, from Quorn Naked Cutlets to portabella mushrooms, may even tempt the meat eaters of the family. And best of all, there's not a veggie burger in sight.

Quorn Naked Cutlets

Quorn has an undeserved bad reputation in the United States. Originally from the UK, Quorn was initially received with suspicion. How good can mycoprotein, a food created in a laboratory, possibly taste? Answer: very good. Quorn is completely soy-free, and consists primarily of an aged fungus, related to the common mushroom. Quorn products contain a small amount of egg white, so unfortunately they cannot be considered vegan.

Quorn Naked Cutlets taste a lot like chicken, more than any soy-based meat alternative I've ever tasted. Quorn can be cooked in any of the ways you would cook chicken. Though it tastes great when stir-fried or baked, Quorn tastes best grilled. I have fed Quorn to meat-devoted relatives, and when they taste it, they wonder for a second if I've stopped being a vegetarian.

To maximize flavor, Quorn should be seasoned before grilling. I recommend first dusting the cutlets with black pepper and herbs. Next, brush with honey, garlic olive oil and sesame oil. Grill the Quorn just as you would grill meat, until there are grill marks on both sides. The only complaint I have about Quorn is that it sometimes becomes dry if it's overcooked, so be careful not to leave it on the grill too long. The marinade also helps to reduce this problem. Serve on a bun with your preferred veggies just like a chicken sandwich.

Portabella Mushrooms

With vegetables like this, who needs meat? Portabella mushrooms are large, about the size of the average hamburger patty, and have a rich, almost meaty flavor. This combination makes portabella mushrooms an ideal grilling option.

Brush portabella mushrooms with butter or olive oil before grilling - mushrooms may be marinated in garlic oil to enhance flavor. Exercise caution while grilling, as mushrooms are more fragile than most meats. Also be sure to cook fully; undercooked mushrooms have an unpleasant texture. It's almost always wiser to overcook a mushroom than under cook one. The mushroom should be several shades darker after grilling than before, and will most likely drip a dark brown "broth." Portabella mushrooms are delicious served on a toasted ciabatta roll, or any toasted bun. Serve with goat cheese and roasted red peppers.

Other Vegetables

Many vegetables grill well. To roast a red bell pepper, grill it until the skin is completely black. The skin will then fall off of the pepper, leaving the sweet red flesh. A roasted red pepper has a flavor similar to a tomato, only not as acidic. They make excellent toppings for Quorn or portabella mushroom sandwiches. Eggplant, zucchini and other types of squash also taste great grilled - again, be sure to cook them thoroughly as many people dislike the flavor of these vegetables raw.

For a side dish, consider roasted corn or potatoes. Both take a bit longer to cook than other vegetables, so start them before you begin cooking the main course. Season the potatoes with rosemary and a small amount of dried mustard powder, and the corn with salt and pepper.

Vegetarians need not fear summer grilling. In fact, using the above mentioned ingredients, most vegetarians will look forward barbecues. So forget the veggie burgers. Pass the Quorn!