Have a vegetarian Australia Day this year and get a little creative with the humble barbeque to whip up more than just the average chop or steak. Try these vegetarian crowd pleasing recipes packed with flavour, like a mouth-watering, cheesy margherita pizza or some versatile Chinese pancakes to load with your favourite toppings.
Fried cheese and punchy spices, how can you go wrong? This easy to make recipe is simple enough for the amateur home cook to whip up, yet is gourmet enough to taste as though it is straight out of an Indian restaurant.
A great dip is always appreciated at a get together and baba ghanoush is the ideal party pleaser to share amongst friends with a crispy side of bread. This recipe requires blistering the eggplant skin over a barbeque flame, creating a smoky flavour and is served up with a generous drizzle of olive oil, making for a healthy option to whip up this Australia Day or to bring along as a dip to any party you may be attending.
3. Chinese Spring Onion Pancakes
These versatile pancakes can be used for tearing up as vehicles for dips, filled with salad toppings, used as a wrap or simply served with a creamy sauce drizzled over the top. A popular option at Chinese New Year celebrations, these also keep well refrigerated to save for the next day.
4. The World’s Best Margherita Pizza
Always a general crowd pleaser, pizza makes for a great option for a larger group as it can be shared easily and portions can be readily made as needed. A winning component of this recipe is learning the technique and method of making a great pizza dough from scratch that can be topped with whatever toppings you desire for future meals.
There is no vegetable with quite the same absorbent texture as eggplants, making it an ideal base vegetable to take on any flavour that is added to it. This recipe calls for a generous drizzling of olive oil with added sea salt, cumin and pepper before grilling the eggplant on the barbeque, making for a smooth base to top with cheese, grilled tomato and fresh basil.
6. Caramelised Cinnamon and Lime Pineapple Skewers
Traditionally the barbeque is reserved for the more savoury options, however grilled summer fruits are undoubtedly underrated. Take care of those sweet cravings with these pineapple skewers drizzled in honey and lime juice with a sprinkling of spices and served with a side of refreshing vanilla ice cream.
