19 vegan kebabs to make for your summer BBQ party

Summer is nearly here so if you’re planning your next barbecue party here is a tasty selection recipes for vegan kebabs to get creative with

Summer means grilling season, but luckily you don’t need to miss out on anything. Let us show you the wide variety of vegan skewers you can prepare for your next barbecue party.

In this article

• What are vegan kebabs made of?
• What are the best meat substitutes for skewers?
• Best vegan kebab recipes

What are vegan kebabs made of?

There are a number of ways to make vegan kebabs based on traditional recipes such as skewers, doner kebabs and shwarmas.

If you are wanting to keep it simple by making vegan skewers that can be grilled on the BBQ then you will need vegetables, skewers, and a tasty marinade to add flavour.

You can spice up your vegan kebabs and skewers with the addition of vegan meats and a flavoursome sauce to dip them in such as a dairy-free garlic sauce or a cooling yoghurt and mint dip.

Pita bread is often used in the Middle East to wrap up all the delicious kebab fillings, or you could opt for homemade flatbreads as a vegan-friendly option.

If you are making vegan doner kebabs or shawarmas then you’ll also need a selection of vegetables such as onions, lettuce, and tomato to add some fresh flavours into the mix.

What are the best meat substitutes for skewers?

When it comes to making vegan kebabs, there are lots of ways to replace meat with plant-based alternatives. If you want to keep it simple, using squares of marinaded tofu is a great way to add more flavour and texture to your plant-based kebabs. You can even use braised tofu instead of the usual firm tofu as this has a stringy texture that has a very meaty texture when cooked.

If you want to make vegan kebabs that are so convincing even meat-eaters won’t be able to tell they’re vegan then opt for seitan as your mock meat. This vegan meat alternative has been a popular protein source in China for thousands of years thanks to its realistic meaty texture and is perfect for making vegan kebabs.

Another meat-free alternative to use to make meat-free kebabs is tempeh, tofu’s firmer, meatier cousin. It soaks up sauces and marinades beautifully so is perfect to use to recreate the flavours of meat using herbs and spices.

You can also take the stress of our summer BBQ’s and opt for ready-made vegan meat alternatives such as sausages, vegan chicken or even pre-made vegan kebab meat. Brands such as Vivera and Oumph! both offer vegan kebab meat alternatives which are widely available in UK and European supermarkets.

Of course, if you’re not a fan of vegan meats, then you can keep it traditional with some tasty vegetable kebabs and skewers which are made with fresh vegetables and spices.

Starting from good old classic grilled vegetable kebabs through to vegan kebabs made with marinated meatless meat alternatives all the way to complete meals cooked on one kebab, are you ready to try these vegan kebab recipes?

Best vegan kebab recipes

1. Tempeh Shish Kebab

This popular dish from the Middle Eastern dish has been reimagined using tempeh in place of meat in this hearty vegan kebab recipe. The perfect alternative to a Friday night takeaway or served at a summer BBQ.

2. Chicken-Style Skewers with Peanut Satay

These vegan chicken skewers are served with a creamy, nutty peanut satay sauce which is so delicious you’ll be licking your fingers to savour every last morsel.

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3. Vegan Tofu Skewers with Mexican Rice & Roasted Sweet Potato

Bring some Mexican flavour to your summer BBQ with this tasty but healthy vegan kebab recipe.

The tofu is full of flavour as it’s packed with herbs and spices like oregano, cumin, garlic and paprika. We’ve served it on a bed of Mexican rice, but the vegan kebabs are equally delicious in their own right.

4. Easy Vegan Tofu Kebabs

Tofu is a great way to replace meat in kebabs as it has a lovely, soft yet chewy texture when you cook it right. The marinade for these kebabs is sweet, tangy, sticky and with a little kick of spice, just like a good marinade should be!

5. Vegan Jerk Seitan Skewers

Enjoy a taste of sunny Jamaica with these satisfyingly meaty seitan skewers. Seitan has a very meaty texture so is a great ingredient to use in vegan kebab recipes as it cooks well on both the BBQ and the grill.

6. Vegan Doner Kebabs

One of the things vegans often say they miss is tucking into a greasy kebab after a night out.

But with a little imagination and some braised tofu, you can enjoy these delights of a doner kebab once again.

7. Vegan Cauliflower Satay Skewers

Shake things up with these sumptuous vegan cauliflower satay skewers at your next gathering. These skewers have a great ‘meaty’ texture from roasting the cauliflower and a nice crispy coating thanks to the ground almonds.

Serve the skewers with a peanut sauce that gives them a perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

8. Peanut Satay Tempeh Skewers

This rich and flavourful satay tempeh sauce is super easy to make and is absolutely delicious served with marinated tempeh and a fresh and crunchy Asian rice slaw.

9. Spicy Marinated Tempeh Skewers with Chilli Sauce

Get hot and heavy with these fiery tempeh skewers served with a side of punchy chilli sauce.

10. Smoky Vegan Kebab

This smoky vegan kebab recipe features easy homemade seitan topped with an irresistible peanut sauce. They’re super meat and absolutely delicious served with fresh lime and herbs.

11. Sesame & Peanut Tempeh Skewers

Shallow-fried tempeh in rich and spicy peanut sesame sauce makes a delicious meal served with rice or quinoa and leafy greens with these sensational skewers.

12. Vegan Shawarma Kebab

This epic vegan kebab recipe features marinated jackfruit, veggies, and a tangy garlic yoghurt sauce all tucked up in a fluffy pita. Need we say more? This is one of our favourite vegan kebab recipes of all time!

13. Grilled Tofu Vegetable Kebabs with BBQ Marinade

Step up your vegan BBQ game with these vegetable skewers. To make these vegan kebabs, simple add tofu marinated in smoky BBQ sauce along with your favourite veggies to a skewer and grill. It is a must-try and a must-eat this summer.

14. Pineapple Tofu Vegetable Kabobs with Teriyaki Marinade

Enjoy a taste of the tropics with this delicious combination of fruit and veggies. The teriyaki marinade caramelises the pineapple and adds an umami flavour to the tofu to make this vegan kebab recipe so utterly moreish.

15. Chili-Lime Tofu & Peach Skewers

Feeling fruity? This summer, try adding some juicy peach to your vegetarian skewers. The combination of the sweetness of the peach couple with the zesty lime and hot chilli is a taste sensation.

16. Peri Peri Kebabs

Turn up the heat with this fiery vegan peri peri kebab recipe. The peri peri sauce marinade is hot but so tasty you’ll keep coming back for more!

17. Pineapple Tofu Skewers

Grilled pineapple is one of the most delicious things on the planet! Paired here with smokey tofu and served with coconut yoghurt, they’re a taste of the tropics in skewer form.

18. Salt & Pepper Tofu Skewers

You only need to look at the ingredients to see just how tasty this tofu skewer recipe is! A vegan version of the classic salt and pepper chicken dish, they’re a flavour explosion!

19. Grilled Eggplant Kebabs with Tahini Satay Marinade

These soft and lightly caramelised aubergines are the queens of grilled vegetables. Not to mention black sesame seeds are the crown. There is really no better way to make vegan kebabs this summer. This is a real crowd-pleaser!

Now that you’ve got your vegan kebab recipes sorted, here are our favourite vegan burger recipes.

Featured image credit: Ela Vegan, elavegan.com