Meatless Grilling

Ever consider going meatless? We’ve have tried from time to time. In fact, John went vegetarian for three years in the 1970s during his 20s. At the time, he was a member of a band called First State Bank where everyone had to be vegetarian. Back then, there weren’t many options. It was pretty much fruit and veggies and strange concoctions from health food stores. When he joined a different band, he became a meat eater again.

I’ve dabbled with it from time to time, maybe going a week or two with little or no meat. It was easy to substitute prepackaged veggie patties for hamburger patties. My favorite is the MorningStar black bean patty. A warmed patty topped with a slice of tomato, roasted pepper and cheese, and you have a quick, yummy, meatless lunch.

I never ventured into grilling veggie patties. Traditional burgers and dogs for me – and I’m not alone. According to a recent MorningStar Farms® survey, 63 percent of Americans agree that backyard barbecues are the biggest temptation to stray from a veggie diet during the summer when compared to eating on road trips and at food festivals.

To make grilled meatless patties more enticing, MorningStar got Chef Carla Hall, cohost of ABC’s “The Chew” and former “Top Chef” competitor to come up with some recipes.

“It’s all about the flavor,” said Chef Carla Hall. “The MorningStar Farms veggie burgers give people a variety of meatless options while adding sizzle and spice to any summer barbecue or party.”

According to the survey, veggie burgers are the No. 1 choice for people considering a meatless version of popular foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken patties. Additionally, half of the survey respondents feel that opting for meatless meals as little as one to three times each week would improve their diet.

MorningStar Farms also has introduced the Burger Back Guarantee, which provides a full refund for those who purchase the product and decide it’s not for them. Details are available atwww.morningstarfarms.com.

Chef Carla Hall lends the following tips to ensure outdoor gatherings sizzle with flavor:

Spray some nonstick cooking spray on the grilling surface before turning up the heat. It makes flipping food easier than ever.

Take the salad out of the bowl and use it to top grilled burgers. Whether it’s a slaw or Caprese salad, consider this the adult version of playing with your food.

Use the grill to take advantage of summer’s wide produce selection. Marinate fresh vegetables in light salad dressing and grill until tender for a tasty side dish. After the meal, add slices of angel food cake and stone fruit or pineapple to the grill for a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert.

Browse more of MorningStar’s recipe ideas. Comment back and tell me your favorite!