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Grilling Wrap Lemon & Herb Green Beans

Grilling Wrap Lemon & Herb Green Beans

By Cedar Wrap Recipes, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Side dishes sometimes become somewhat of an afterthought, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Seasoned green beans make a great side dish for almost any main course, and wrapped in Cedar Wood grilling wraps, they are so fast and simple to prepare. It’s surprisingly bright and flavourful, and also vegan and gluten-free.

Cedar Wrap Lemon & Herb Green Beans – serves 2-4

You’ll need:

  • Cedar Wood Grilling Wraps
  • Green Beans
  • Olive Oil
  • Fresh Mixed herbs, chopped (parsley, sage, oregano, basil)
  • Lemon zest
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Grilling Wrap Lemon & Herb Green Beans

Step 1:
Par cook the green beans in a pot of boiling water or steam them until just underdone. They should be vibrant green and still a little crisp.

Step 2:
Soak the grilling wraps for about 10 minutes.

Step 3:
Place green beans in the wrap, parallel with the grain of the wood.

Step 4:
Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with herbs and lemon zest.

Step 5:
Roll the wrap around the green beans, secure with twine and grill until done, about 10 minutes.

If you are motivated by a desire to eat more fresh, seasonal produce, you simply can’t go wrong with this one. The magic of this recipe is that it only requires a handful of ingredients, and you probably already have most of them on hand. Whether you are grilling up some meat or poaching a simple fish fillet, this is a great pick for whatever you want to pair it with.

Asparagus with Carrots Smoked in a Natural Wood Wrap

Asparagus with Carrots Smoked in a Natural Wood Wrap

By Cedar Wrap Recipes, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Don’t you love that time when asparagus are in season? Here’s a quick and healthy side dish you can make with cedar wood grilling wraps that is simple to prepare on a weekday for dinner or a fancy option when you have company. Either way, you’ll love how easy it is to prepare and above all, how delicious it is!

Asparagus with Carrots in cedar wood wraps – serves 2

You’ll need:

  • 2 grilling wraps with string
  • 2 tsp of finely grated fresh ginger
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp finely grated orange zest
  • 10 spears fresh asparagus
  • 1 large carrot
  • 2 small sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 2 tbsp chopped onion
Asparagus with Carrots Smoked in a Natural Wood Wrap

Step 1:
Pre-soak the cedar wood wraps in water for at least 10 minutes. Weigh them down with something to be sure they’re fully covered by the water. Preheat the grill on medium.

Step 2:
Grate the ginger for about 2 teaspoons and mince the garlic clove. Mix it together in a shallow dish along with the mustard, soy sauce, oil, and orange zest.

Step 3:
Snap the asparagus spears to the length of the wraps. Slice the carrots lengthwise to two or more slabs ¼” (6 mm) thick.

Step 4:
Open the wraps on your work surface so that the grain runs side-to-side. Add the carrots to the dish, turning to coat. Lay them in the middle of the wraps, parallel to the grain. Lay a sprig of thyme on top of the carrots.

Step 5:
Repeat the coating process with the asparagus, piling the spears on top of the carrots and thyme. Scoop up any bits left on the dish and add them to the pile. Sprinkle the onions over. Fold up first one edge of the wrap and then tightly fold the other over it. Secure it with the string.

Step 6:
Have a spray bottle of water handy take care of things in case the wraps ignite. Lay the packets on the preheated grill and close the lid. Cook for 5 minutes or until done.

It’s been said that asparagus a “wine-challenged” food, but a crisp and refreshing wine like Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris pair beautifully with this dish. It’ll enhance that lovely spring summer vibe. Aromatics such as Riesling and Gewürztraminer are also a good match, and so is bubbly. Anything except for tannic and oaky wines, really. The char character from the grilling works wonderfully with Pinot Noir as well, as it is light-bodied and earthy.

vegetables in a grilling wrap

Vegetable Bouquets Smoked in a Natural Wood Wrap

By Cedar Wrap Recipes, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Contrary to popular belief, Cedar wood is not just for barbeque grilling, and the special smokiness is not only suited to fish and meat.  You can also use cedar wood planks and wraps when cooking in the oven, and it enhances the flavour of most vegetables beautifully, too. These fabulous Cedar wrapped vegetable bouquets are made with herb butter coated asparagus, carrots, and capsicums, arranged in a Cedar Works cedar wrap then roasted in the oven.

Cedar wrapped Vegetable Bouquets – Serves 4

You’ll need:

  • 4 Cedar Works Cedar wraps
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 red capsicum
  • 1 yellow capsicum
  • 300g asparagus
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
vegetables in a grilling wrap

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 200 °C.  Prepare the cedar wraps and string by soaking them in water or white wine for 10 to 15 minutes.  Trim the woody ends from the asparagus and slice the capsicums.  Use a vegetable peeler to shave long, thin slices from the carrot.

Step 2:
Stir the chopped parsley into the melted butter.

Step 3:
Lay out the soaked cedar wraps and divide the vegetables evenly between them.  Drizzle the vegetables equally with herb butter, paying special attention to any exposed ends that stick out from the wrap, then season with salt and pepper.

Step 4:
Close up the wraps and tie each one with a piece of soaked string. Place on a baking pan and roast the parcels in the oven for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are crisp tender, then serve.

We’ve selected asparagus, capsicum and carrots for this recipe, but many other vegetables are also suitable for cedar wrapping.  All you need to do is make sure that they’re cut to the proper size and thickness to make sure everything cooks evenly.  For example, instead of slicing carrots into rounds or sticks, you can use a peeler to shave long, thin strips. That’s how they cook at the same rate as the faster-cooking capsicum and asparagus.

Cedar Planked Tofu With Mango Salsa

Vegan Tofu with Mango Salsa Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

By Cedar Plank Recipes, Fruit, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Serving tofu grilled on a cedar plank is the best idea ever to satisfy your vegan friends at your next BBQ party. They can leave their container with home prepared vegan goods at home as this won’t go anywhere near any meat juices. This grilled tofu is the flavour-packed vegan main dish you’ve been looking for.

Even if you’re not a fan of tofu, we think this one will surprise you. Soaked in a zesty cumin-lime marinade and served with mango salsa, this scrumptious tofu could well be your new summer favourite. It’s a standout people pleaser, whether your guests have a plant-based diet or not. The mango salsa is also perfectly safe for eaters with dietary requirements.

Cedar Planked Tofu with Mango Salsa – Serves 2

You’ll need:

  • 1 medium cedar plank
  • 400 gram extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
  • ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp of high heat oil of choice

For the Salsa:

  • 1 mango, peeled and cubed
  • ½ cucumber, diced
  • 3 tomatoes, diced
  • 1 small red onion, very finely diced
  • Bunch of fresh coriander (cilantro), roughly chopped
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

Step 1:
Stir the soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl.

Step 2:
Cut the block of tofu in half, thickness wise, to create two thin slabs. Next cut each slab in half, width-wise, to create 4 smaller slabs.

Step 3:
Place the tofu slabs into a shallow dish and pour the soy sauce mixture over them. Allow the tofu to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.

Step 4:
While the tofu marinates, fill a shallow dish with water and submerge the cedar plank. Allow the plank to soak for at least 30 minutes but an hour is best.

Smoked Burrata Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

Smoked Burrata Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

By Cedar Plank Recipes, Cheese, Vegetarian

This is the perfect way to wow your guests and indulge on a perfect ball of burrata. Okay, let’s first explain what burrata is. Some call it the Queen of Italian cheeses and translated from Italian, burrata means buttery. That’s a clue to the delicious melt-in-your-mouth centre that awaits inside.

This amazing semi-soft cheese is made by artisans with just three simple ingredients: cow’s milk, rennet, and cream. Just as fresh, mild and creamy, mozzarella bears a close resemblance to burrata in both flavour and ingredients. Feel free to substitute it if you can’t find the real thing. The purpose of cedar planking this type of cheese is to add a light smoky flavour without really cooking or melting the cheese.

Cedar Planked Smoked Burrata – Serves 2

You’ll need:

  • 1 well-soaked cedar plank
  • 1 Ball of burrata cheese
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Some Olive Oil
  • Fresh basil for garnish

Step 1:
Soak the cedar plank in water for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling.

Step 2:
Preheat your grill to medium- high heat on one side.

Step 3:
Remove the ball of burrata from the package and discard the water. Pat it dry and place it on the cedar plank.

Step 4:
Place the plank over a medium heat grill and close the lid to cook for 2 minutes. Check to see the plank is smoking and the burrata is not melting. The burrata should not melt during this cook, just get warm and smoke infused. Cook an additional 1-3 minutes to smoke infuse as needed and carefully take it off the grill.

Step 5:
Plate the burrata with a little drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, and garnish with fresh basil.

If you’ve had burrata before, you’re probably wondering how to grill this cheese without making a huge mess. If you’re careful and determined, it is possible. Just don’t grill it for too long or at too high heat. Serve this gooey goodness with crackers or pita chips and add some grilled fruit like cherries, grapes, or berries to make it even more exciting. You can also pop it onto a bowl of pasta and enjoy it as a main meal.

Cedar Planked Herbed Cream and Cheese Capsicums

Herbed Cream Cheese Capsicums Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

By Cedar Plank Recipes, Cheese, Vegetarian

If you are looking for a colourful and tasty side dish or appetiser, these pepper boats with herbed cream cheese filling grilled on a cedar plank are a sure winner. If you serve about 6 of them to each person, you can call it a meal.

In this recipe we use basil, chives and coriander but feel free to use whatever herbs you have handy. Enjoy the creaminess from the filling, the bite from the garlic, the freshness from the herbs, plus the sweet crunch from the blackened peppers.

Cedar Planked Herbed Cream Cheese Capsicums – serves 4

You’ll need:

  • 1 large cedar plank
  • 250g cream cheese, softened
  • 1 or 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
  • 2 large red, yellow, or orange capsicums, seeded, and quartered
  • olive oil for brushing and drizzling
  • ½ cup chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)

Step 1:
Soak the cedar plank for an hour, fully submerged in water, and prepare your grill to medium-high heat.

Step 2:
In a medium-sized bowl, beat the cream cheese until it’s lovely and smooth. Beat in the garlic, basil, and chives then set aside.

Step 3:
Brush the skin side of each capsicum quarter with olive oil. Put them on the soaked plank, spoon some cream cheese into the middle of each, making sure you don’t overstuff, then place the plank on the grill and cover. Grill for 5 minutes, or until the bottoms are scorched and the cheese has melted. Sprinkle them with chopped tomatoes, fresh coriander, and drizzle of olive oil then serve.

Filling and not spilling the quartered capsicums is the hardest part of this recipe, so unless you have a steady hand make sure to keep some paper towels handy. If you have some herbed cream cheese mix left over, it’s great on bagels for breakfast or spread it on your sandwiches for lunch.

Grilled Veggie Kebabs Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

Grilled Veggie Kebabs Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

By Cedar Plank Recipes, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Kebabs are a great way to get your meat and vegetable fixes all at once. Keep in mind though that meat, vegetables and fruit do not all cook at the same speed. Even different types of produce require different cook times.

A zucchini cooks differently than an onion, and chicken of course takes longer to cook than prawn. Our advice is to keep it simple and to use individual skewers for each type of kebab. Separating different meats, vegetables and fruits onto different skewers will cook things evenly.

A great kebab calls for a marinade. The goal is to get as much flavour as possible into your kebabs before they hit the grill.  A mix of garlic, rosemary and olive oil does wonders for pork tenderloin kebabs, or you can wrap the meat in bacon. If you’re grilling seafood, a marinade of garlic, coriander, basil, paprika, lime juice, honey, salt, and olive oil is great.

You can use wooden skewers, but make sure to soak them first. Using rosemary sprigs as skewers is another fun idea. Make sure to soak your cedar wood plank before grilling, too. You’ll find the instructions on the packaging.

Kebabs are a beautiful addition to an al fresco meal, and the rosemary and cedar planking add beautiful flavour layers to the meat and vegetables.

Serve 2 or 3 skewers per person

You’ll need:

  • cedar planks for grilling
  • skewers or fresh rosemary sprigs
  • any meat or seafood you like, in even pieces
  • onion chunks
  • sweet bell pepper pieces
  • pineapple chunks (optional)
  • whole mushrooms
  • cherry or grape tomatoes
  • a marinade of choice
  • salt and pepper

Step 1:
Soak cedar planks according to the directions on the package. Stick the assorted marinated meat, veggies or fruits on the skewers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Step 2:
Place the prepared skewers on planks (3 or 4 to a plank.) Place the planks on hot side of grill, cover and allow to cook until your protein and veggies reach desired tenderness. They will be infused with the yummy cedar smoke flavour but keep an eye on them and make sure they’re not scorched to death.

Serving suggestions:

Kebabs are brilliant served with a light green summer salad, potato wedges, crusty bread rolls, rice pilaf or coconut rice. If you’re going for a Mediterranean theme, whip up an easy mint and cucumber yogurt dip to go with your meal. It’s delicious. Other sauces that go well with kebabs, depending on your choice of meat and veg, are garlic mayonnaise, peanut satay, and sweet chili.

Vegetables including asparagus & mushroom on a grilling plank

Grilled Asparagus & Mushrooms Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

By Cedar Plank Recipes, Vegetables, Vegetarian

The flavours from asparagus and mushrooms combined with the smokiness of cedar wood plank grilling aren’t easy to describe, but the word delicious is the first that comes to mind. This easy recipe will surely impress your vegetarian friends. It is a fantastic side dish for all sorts of meals, whether your diet is plant-based or not.

Cedar plank grilling is perfect for all sorts of vegetables, just make sure you choose veggies that cook in about the same time. Red peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, onions, green beans, brussels sprouts (cut in half), broccoli and carrots (cut into small chunks) all work well. Potatoes take a little longer to cook but you can pre-cook those in the microwave.

You’ll need:

  • 1 large cedar plank
  • A bunch of fresh asparagus
  • Any type of mushrooms
  • Fire salt (or a mix of sea salt, paprika, chilli powder and garlic)
  • 3 tbsp olive oil

Step 1:
Rinse and snap off the bases of the asparagus, then coat them and the mushrooms or the other veggies you’re using with a tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle lightly with Fire salt or the seasoning of your choice.

Step 2:
Prepare your cedar wood grilling plank by soaking it in water for about an hour. Heat grill to 120° C and place the soaked plank over direct heat for 5 minutes. Remove it and oil the heated side.

Step 3:
Place the cedar plank with oiled side up on your grill, place the vegetables on top. Cook them for 10 to 15 minutes over direct heat until tender but firm. Keep a squirt bottle of water handy in case your cedar plank catches fire.

You can serve these as a side dish, on its own, or toss them over salads. If you don’t have a barbeque or grill, you can just as easily prepare it in the oven. Roasted cedar plank vegetables are super easy to make, taste delicious and will impress your guests. If you use the oven, all you do is soak the plank for at least 15 minutes, arrange vegetables, season and bake.

Mushrooms on a grilling plank

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

By Cedar Plank Recipes, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Vegetables, especially those beautiful big “meaty” portobellos mushrooms, taste amazing when cooked on a plank. Stuffed portobello mushrooms are a real treat, and an excellent way to impress your guests. Grab the biggest mushrooms you can find for that wow-factor.

There’s a huge variety of fillings you can use for a dish like this, but we decided on an summery Italian flavour used veggies only. We chose squash, zucchini, corn, and beautiful fresh capsicum for the filling. The delicate smoky flavour is delicious and will enhance all the vegetable flavours.

We used a beautiful shredded asiago cheese from our local Mediteranian deli, but you can use any cheese you like. From gooey mozzarella to strong Stilton, anything goes. Vegan cheese in an option if you want to keep your dish 100% plant based.

Summery Cedar Grilled Portobello Mushrooms – Serves 4

You’ll need:

  • 4 large, firm Portobello mushrooms
  • Olive oil
  • 2 cups of (vegan) cheese
  • 1 small buttercup or butternut squash
  • 1 large or two small courgettes/zucchini
  • 1 cup of corn kernels – fresh or from a can
  • 3-4 green, red, orange and/or yellow peppers

Step 1:

While your cedar wood soaks in water, cut the veggies and grill them up. Toss them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and place them on the grill. Remove the grills and stems from the mushrooms to create a nice flat surface for stuffing. You can cut them into pieces and add them to the veggie mix when you fill the caps.

Step 2:

Brush your mushrooms with olive oil and place them on the grill for no longer than 3 minutes, with the caps side up. Take them off the grill and let them cool. If moisture appears, pat them dry with a paper towel.

Step 3:

Fill the caps with shredded cheese and layer your veggies on top so it shows the different colours. Sprinkle some more cheese on top and place them on the plank. Keep the grill temperature around 150 C for the best results. While the mushrooms are cooking, you’ll hear the cedar wood cracking and a sweet smell will fill the air. The cheese on the bottom will melt beautifully, and the veggies will turn golden in about 15 minutes.

Step 4:

Garnish your stuffed mushroos with fresh grilled corn, some basil, and a drizzle of olive oil then serve.

Serving suggestions:

You can serve your cedar plank grilled stuffed portobello mushrooms on a bed of wilted spinach, with a fresh garden salad, or with a garlic pototo mash and broccoli. It’s a lovely light option for a meat-free dinner. A prosecco or another light white wine with this is a match made in heaven, but a nice red also works. Check out or other recipes if you’re looking for more ways to impress your dinner guests.

Camembert on a grilling plank

Grilled Camembert or Brie Smoked on a Natural Wood Plank

By Cedar Plank Recipes, Cheese, Vegetarian

Looking for an appetiser that’s easy to make but will leave your guests talking for days? When you want a little more excitement than what you’d get from simply serving cheese and crackers, make this cheesy, gooey, slightly spicy surprise that’s ready to serve in less than 20 minutes.

Both Camembert and brie are perfect for grilling. Both cheeses have an earthy flavour and aroma. Brie is milder with a creamy, buttery taste, while Camembert is a little deeper, more earthy and intense. Fancy but easy, this cedar wood grilled French cheese delight is a perfect happy hour food for your next dinner party.

Cedar Planked Camembert or Brie – Serves 3 to 4 as an appetiser

You’ll need:

  • 1 cedar wood grilling plank
  • 1 whole small camembert or brie cheese
  • 3 tablespoons pepper jelly, tomato jam, or apricot jam
  • 1 to 2 large jalapeño peppers
  • Grilled bread or crackers for dipping

Step 1:
Set up your grill for smoke-roasting (indirect grilling) and preheat it to medium-high, no more than 180C. Place the plank directly on the grill grate and grill until it’s singed on both sides. Set aside and let it cool (this is optional, but it gives you a lot more flavour).

Step 2:
Using a sharp knife, score a deep cross or a crosshatch pattern on the top of the cheese so the air can escape while cooking.

Step 3:
Place the cheese in the centre of the plank and spread the top with the jam or jelly, using the back of a spoon. Slice the jalapeños longways ad place them on top so the slices overlap to make a decorative pattern.

Step 4:
Place the plank on the grill away from direct heat and smoke-roast the cheese until the top browns, the sides are soft, and it’s beginning to melt. That should take no more than 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 5:
Serve the grilled camembert or brie on the plank hot off the grill with grilled bread slices or some fancy crackers. Vegetable sticks are a good pairing, too.

Serve this deliciousness with a glass of red or white French wine, or opt for a quality New Zealand vino as it’s just as good. Trust us, it’d be hard to find an appetiser that’s tastier than this.