Don’t panic carnivores! Super Bowl vegetable dishes won’t be the only things on the menu. How about pickled jalapenos to go on those grilled burgers? Keep reading to learn more Super Bowl feast ideas.
Super Bowl Sunday from the Garden?
In our household, every year, there’s one guy who must bring his “famous” chicken wings and another couple that has to bring their BBQ ribs. This starts the menu out with some significant protein, but what about those who want to lighten things up or avoid meat entirely? Fear not, there are plenty of Super Bowl feast ideas that are exciting and tasty and can come directly from your veggie garden. A little planning might be in order if you want to provide the Super Bowl fiesta ingredients from the garden, however.
Growing Your Own Super Bowl Food
The key to a vegetarian menu that will wow the armchair football fan is variety. When I say variety, I not only mean a variety of veggies but also a variety of herbs, different textures, and different temperatures should be served. For example, incorporate some hot items with chilled and some spicy with creamy into your Super Bowl feast ideas. When planning the garden, you should plant a variety of veggies and don’t forget the herbs. What would salsa be like without fresh cilantro? Tomatoes are a must have for most gardeners but what about tomatillos or peppers, both sweet and hot? Onions, yes, but include leeks or shallots as well. Greens, such as a nice variety of lettuce or some bok choy and kale, should be included. Include some broccoli and carrots at the very least for veggie trays, and some root veggies which can be prepared in a variety of ways, not the least are fried root veggie chips sprinkled with sea salt. Beans of any variety, whether they are shelling beans or green, will be a welcome addition when growing your own Super Bowl food. Peas as well. Snap peas with spicy hummus are a revelation and take very little effort. Really, the list could go on and on. A garden that has been planted with a variety of veggies will allow the party giver numerous options.
How to Make a Super Bowl Spread
No one knows at this juncture who will be playing the Super Bowl, but as things progress and the outcome seems assured, a great idea for your gala is to include the colors of the combatants. For instance, if green will be the color of one of the teams, you could make cucumber rolls with avocado or crispy garlic Brussel sprouts with sriracha aoli. Fried edamame can’t be any easier or there’s always crowd-pleasing guacamole. If red is the color of your favorite team, cheer them on with bruschetta bites with balsamic glaze or puff pastry margarita tartlets with fresh basil. At any rate, you get the gist. Even if you aren’t into the thematic color schemes, you can still provide vegetarian options of classics like grilled hamburgers by substituting grilled Portobella mushrooms with caramelized onions and gorgonzola, or homemade pico de gallo instead of jarred salsa. Dips and the Super Bowl go hand in hand…with beer. Try making your own green goddess dip made with fresh herbs or onion dip. Pizza anyone? Mini grilled pizzas of your choice will make them forget their team is losing. Try combinations such as:
garlic, arugula, and goat cheeseolive, spinach, tomato, and onionsweet pear or apple with gorgonzola
Super Bowl vegetable dishes don’t have to be boring. Spicy buffalo cauliflower or leek, spinach and feta spanikopita are anything but blasé. Fry up a batch of truffle French fries or a side of sweet potato fries garnished with lavender and bleu cheese with a sherry vinegar aioli. Any one of these Super Bowl feast ideas will have your meat-loving friends in a tizzy with nary a complaint about the lack of animal protein while your vegetarian friends (who often get stuck with little to no choice at a party) will be singing your praises. So whether or not your favorite team wins, at least you know you, the Super Bowl gardener, will!
