Barbecue vegetables with almond sauce

Description
These colourful marinated vegetables are great for a vegan barbecue, served with a delicious almond and garlic sauce.
Ingredients
- 150g/5½oz blanched almonds
- 4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 80ml/2¾fl oz extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- ½ small bunch fresh oregano, leaves picked
- ½ orange, juice and zest
- 2 courgettes, sliced lengthways into 5mm/¼in strips
- 225g/8oz cherry tomatoes on the vine
- 2 yellow peppers, sliced into 1cm/½in strips
- salt and black pepper
Directions
- Start by preparing the almond sauce. Tip 100g/3½oz of the almonds into a heatproof bowl, along with the garlic. Cover with boiling water and set the bowl aside. Toast the remaining almonds in a frying pan over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring regularly until golden, then set aside.
- To make the marinade, place all of the ingredients except the prepared vegetables in a large mixing bowl. Season generously with salt and black pepper. If you are cooking the vegetables on a griddle pan (rather than using a barbecue outside), leave them out of the marinade to prevent a very smoky cooking environment. If you’re using a barbecue, toss the vegetables in the marinade.
- Preheat the barbecue or griddle pan over a high heat. Cook the vegetables in a single layer directly onto the barbecue, or griddle in batches, for a few minutes on each side.
- Once softened and striped black on both sides, return the vegetables to the marinade bowl and cover with a plate to trap the steam and soften while you finish the sauce - around 10 minutes. If cooked on the griddle pan, toss the vegetables in the marinade to coat before covering. This will help them to take on more flavour.
- To finish the almond sauce, drain the soaked almonds and garlic and tip into a food processor along with the toasted almonds, red wine vinegar and ½ teaspoon of salt. Begin to blend, then slowly pour in the olive oil along with 100ml/3½fl oz of cold water and let the food processor continue to run until a smooth sauce forms, about 3 minutes.
- Spread the sauce onto a serving platter, then top with the grilled vegetables and spoon over the marinade.