• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Agile Test Kitchen

make it better @ home

  • Home
  • Vegan
  • Seafood
  • One Pan
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
You are here: Home / Seasonal Recipes / Summer Recipes / Vegan BBQ: 3 EASY Ideas to Pair with Crianza Rioja

Vegan BBQ: 3 EASY Ideas to Pair with Crianza Rioja

Published: Jul 12, 2019 · Updated: Oct 31, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

  • Share
  • Tweet
Vegan BBQ ideas pinterest image
Vegan BBQ Skewers with a glass of red wine

Before you spend precious time prepping vegetable skewers, consider these 3 vegan options at your next BBQ.  They pair quite nicely with Crianza Rioja wine too.

Vegan BBQ Skewers with a glass of red wine

Vegetable skewers are fun to eat, but you can skip the chopping and prep work with these 3 vegan BBQ ideas below.

There always has to be a vegetarian/vegan option for any kind of get together, including a summer BBQ.

Luckily, it’s not very difficult, and vegan options can even taste just as good as “meat” on the fire.

Why not give these 3 dishes a try?

#1 Smoked Shishito Peppers

Red and green Shishito Peppers on the grill over charcoal
Shishito peppers are just large enough not to slip through the grill grates.
BBQ Shishito peppers in a bowl
These bite size poppers are the cherries of the vegetable world and usually not too spicy either.

Shishito peppers are a small, thin skinned and shriveled one bite wonder you hold by the stem to pop in to your mouth just like a cherry.

They can be spicy, but more often than not, they are mild.

Easy Appetizer

This appetizer seems to show up in the summertime in countless farm to table restaurants on the West Coast.

It’s really too simple and so easy to make @ home.

Just the standard toss with olive oil and sea salt.

Toss with olive oil and grill for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side.  Season with salt.

That little bit of smokiness from the grill improves the flavor so much more.

They also taste really great with some miso sauce and Japanese whisky.

#2 Vegan Sausages

Vegan Field Roast Mexican Chorizo Sausages on the grill with red onion and yellow bell pepper
These plant based sausages look just like meat and taste like it too.
Taco with yellow tomato salsa and crumbled vegan chorizo sausage
Try spreading the vegan sausage love over a corn tortilla for a light Mexican meal.

If you’re an omnivore, frankly, the sound of vegan sausages sounds gross.

But these plant based sausages from Field Roast may make you change your mind.

A Blend of European and Asian Heritage

As the label states, these sausages are “a blend of European and Asian heritage”.

Unlike many vegan “meat” products that are processed from soybeans, the only unusual product used in this one is Vital wheat gluten.

Wheat gluten is used in Chinese cuisine for dishes such as kao-fu and seitan.

Tastes just like meat

I brought these to a sausage party with an assortment of pork and beef sausages on the grill.  Everyone was so surprised at how good they tasted and how much they resembled meat in texture and flavor.

The chorizo flavor is a wee bit spicy so beware.

Though once smushed into warmed corn tortillas with a fresh tomato salsa on top, you won’t mind the spicy kick.

#3 BBQ Bellas

2 portabella mushrooms with BBQ sauce on a charcoal grill
A big portabella mushroom slathered with BBQ sauce on the grill is sweet, savory, and smoky.
BBQ Portabella mushrooms with green onion and salsa on a plate with rioja red wine on the side
The flavors also pair well with the ever food friendly Rioja wine.

What would an outdoor BBQ get together be without some actual BBQ sauce?

Whether homemade or store bought, the sauce seems to match with everything including giant portabella mushrooms.

Hopefully though the BBQ sauce is not overly sweet.

Oftentimes sugar can be the first ingredient in bottled BBQ sauces.

I usually add a couple dashes of soy sauce to balance out the sugar.

Scrape out the gills and slather on your favorite sauce while it cooks on the grill.  It will probably be the juiciest “steak” you’ve ever had.

Wine Pairing: Crianza Rioja

Bottle and wine glass of 2015 Bodega LAN Crianza Rioja with green plants in the background

This 2015 Crianza Rioja from Bodegas LAN ($14) show ripe red fruit flavors with some leather and bay leaf that marry well with grilled food. (Disclosure: This wine was provided as a sample. All opinions expressed are unique to this blog.)

While there are many drinks you could pair with an outdoor BBQ feast, consider a Spanish Rioja wine made from tempranillo grapes.

Rioja Shopping Tips

There are 4 styles of Rioja to look for in the store:

  1. Joven – Young wine with little to no ageing. It almost tastes like grape juice.
  2. Crianza – Aged a minimum of 1 year in casks and a few months in the bottle.  Very approachable wine that shines with fruit and muted oak flavors.
  3. Reserva – Aged a minimum of 3 years, with at least 1 year in casks.  Shows much more complexity than the Crianza which is also reflected in the price.
  4. Gran Reserva – Aged a minimum of 2 years in oak casks and 3 years in the bottle.  Shows structure, fine tannins, and easily quaffable without food.

Joven Riojas can be a bit hard to find.  Crianza Riojas are a bit easier to find and very affordable with most bottles under $15.

Pairs with Vegan Food

Rioja is often recommended with BBQ foods and for good reason.  It is very food friendly and classically paired with all the wonderful tapas from Spain.

It matches with the vegetal, smoky notes of the shisito peppers, handles the spice in the chorizo “sausages,” and stands up to the sweetness in the BBQ sauced portabella mushrooms without clashing with the tannins too much.

I tried these pairings with the 2015 Crianza Rioja from Bodegas LAN (provided as a sample) and was quite pleased with how well it danced with different partners.

I also tried the wine with herb roasted chicken, grassfed steak haché, and hot smoked salmon.  However, I didn’t like it nearly as much as with the vegetable options.

Why is Crianza Rioja best paired with BBQ?

For my money, Crianza works well for a party since it is more affordably priced.

In addition, if you don’t end up liking it, you can turn it into sangria and not feel guilty about spending so much on a bottle of wine you’re diluting with sugar, fruit, and ice.

Helpful Tips

  1. If there are vegan/vegetarians, remember to reserve a portion of the grill for non-meat items only.  Separate tongs/utensils would be best practice too.
  2. Vegetable skewers are always a default grilling item.  Shishito peppers, vegan sausages, and BBQ portabella mushrooms can satiate your vegans/vegetarians and even omnivores.
  3. Rioja pairs well with BBQ food and a BBQ party.  There are 4 styles to consider when shopping that vary according to how long they are aged.
  4. If you don’t end up liking the wine you purchase, make sangria with it because everyone loves sangria!

For more expert tips on pairing Rioja wines, check out these posts from the #winePW writers:

  • Lori at Exploring the Wine Glass shares “A Father’s Passion is Passed Down to Daughter and Expressed in Bottle”
  • David from Cooking Chat shares “Grilled Paprika Pork Chops with a Rioja”
  • Jane at Always Ravenous shares “Grilled Sausage Feast Paired with Rioja Crianza”
  • Lauren at The Swirling Dervish shares “Paella and Bodegas LAN: Perfect for Your Summer BBQ“
  • Jill at L’Occasion shares “On the Grill with Rioja Wine“
  • Jennifer at Vino Travels Italy shares “Oven Roasted Italian Sausage with Rioja Riserva“
  • Martin at Enofylz Wine Blog shares “Grilled Garam Masala Lamb Chops paired with Bodega LAN Reserva“
  • Linda at My Full Wine Glass shares “Keep your cool with grilled steak salad and Rioja”
  • Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla shares “Robatayaki and Rioja Wines, the Perfect Summertime Party”
  • Pinny at Chinese Food & Wine Pairings shares “Bodegas LAN Rioja Crianza and Thick-Cut Sirloin Steak on the Grill”
  • Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm shares “Our Favorite BBQ Ribs with LAN Rioja“
  • Gwen at Wine Predator shares “An American Summer BBQ with a Red and a Rose from Rioja”
  • Nicole at Somm’s Table shares “Cooking to the Wine: Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva with Smoky Seared Octopus”
  • Jeff at Food Wine Click! shares “Smoking Low & Slow with Rioja Wines”

Other Vegan Recipes

Thai Black Rice Pudding: the Superfood you’re not Eating

Healthy Bell Pepper Recipe with Black Bean Sauce (Vegan)

Vegan Korean Black Bean Noodles: Jia Jiang Myeon (with wine)

Do you love BBQ?  Spread the ♥, and please share!

More recipes you may enjoy

  • Shrimp Chow Fun (with Scrambled Eggs)
  • Quick Tofu Scramble (with 4 Ingredient Seasoning Mix)
  • Tako Poke
  • Lomi Salmon (with this super SIMPLE hack!)
  • Share
  • Tweet

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Camilla at Culinary Adventures

    July 12, 2019 at 10:47 am

    Deanna, those dishes look delicious…and a great match for the wine. I can’t wait to grill some bellas. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 12, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      Thanks so much Camilla!

      Reply
  2. Jen Martin

    July 13, 2019 at 4:24 am

    I love throwing some skewers on the grill and these vegetarian ones look fantastic! I especially loved portobellas!

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 25, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      Thanks Jen! I love portabellas too. 🙂

      Reply
  3. David

    July 14, 2019 at 5:39 am

    I was curious to see what you came up with for vegan BBQ when I saw your title! nice variety. Those peppers definitely must be a West Coast thing, I haven’t seen them in the Boston area.

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 25, 2019 at 5:33 pm

      I guess they are just on the west coast. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled when I’m on the east coast for shishito peppers. Thanks so much for reading!

      Reply
  4. Wendy Klik

    July 14, 2019 at 7:25 am

    I agree that when entertaining you need to have plenty of options for all of your guests. Great suggestions for vegan/vegetarian/diet meals.

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 25, 2019 at 5:33 pm

      Thank you so much Wendy!

      Reply
  5. Linda

    July 14, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    Love the go-smoky veggie options for pairing with this fruity Crianza. Will try to track down those peppers next time I’m on the West Coast. Not sure I could fine them in Pennsylvania!

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 25, 2019 at 5:34 pm

      Hmm, I didn’t realize they weren’t ubiquitous since I’ve seen them so often in CA. Thanks so much for reading!

      Reply
  6. Lori

    July 15, 2019 at 12:09 pm

    Love to see all the vegetarian options! Chorizo spice sounds fantastic to me

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 25, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      Thanks Lori! They are very tasty if you happen to see them at the market. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Lauren

    July 15, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    I love the idea of doing a vegan bbq and those peppers sound delicious – especially with the miso and Japanese whisky accompaniments! And, based on your recommendation, I will seek out the vegan sausages: trying to cut down on meat across the board and these sound pretty good. Cheers!

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 25, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      I hope you are able to find them and enjoy them too! Thank you for the kind comments!

      Reply
  8. Jeff

    July 16, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    Great ideas for keeping our vegetarian / vegan friends in mind from the beginning! Clearly, you know your stuff in this area, as you also advise separate area of the grill and separate utensils. Nice.

    Reply
    • asiantestkitchen@gmail.com

      July 25, 2019 at 5:31 pm

      Oh yes must keep the vegans and veggies happy with separate grill space. Thanks so much for reading! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Winter Recipes

4 Vegan Stuffed Honeynut Squash on a long white plate

Twice Baked Honeynut Squash with Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing

Vegan Korean Soft Tofu Soup or Soondubu Jigae in black pot

Vegan Korean Tofu Soup Recipe

miso manila clams horizontal image

Quickie Miso-Mirin Manila Clams

Korean soybean tofu vegetable stew in 2 black pots

Vegan Doenjang Jjigae (dump & go recipe!)

See More →

Popular Posts

Glass bowl of sliced cucumber kimchi with sesame seed garnish

Quick, Vegan Cucumber Kimchi (in 30 minutes!)

Fork twirling vegetarian black bean sauce noodles - Korean

Vegan Korean Black Bean Noodles: Jia Jiang Myeon

Korean bean sprout salad in bowl

5 Minute Korean Bean Sprout side dish

miso marinated black cod

Foolproof 2-Day Miso Marinated Black Cod a la Nobu

Footer

as seen in magazine logos in gray

Amazon Affiliate

Agiletestkitchen.com is a participant in the Amazon Affiliates LLC program.  A very small commission may be received for purchases you make from clicking links on this site, but never at any extra cost to you.

Welcome!

Learn to make healthy, high quality meals for you and your loved ones. Simple techniques and always easy recipes... Read More

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in