In the mood for a big, juicy burger? Forget the drive-thru and keep your frozen patties on ice. These delicious plant-based burger recipes are packed with flavour and protein and are sure to satisfy your burger craving while getting a few extra veggies into your diet in the process.
The general rule for making a good veggie burger? You need six basic components:
◦ Two cups of finely diced cooked vegetables like zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes or corn
◦ One and a half cups of cooked legumes like kidney beans, lentils or chickpeas
◦ One cup of cooked grains like quinoa or rice
◦ One half cup of something that adds texture like chopped walnuts or sundried tomatoes
◦ Three teaspoons of spices like chili powder, garlic powder or garam masala powder
◦ One half cup of a binder like oatmeal, panko breadcrumbs or almond meal
When it comes to cooking your burger, homemade plant-based burgers are generally more delicate than traditional meat burgers. They don’t always like being slammed down in a hot pan and they definitely won’t survive on a grill.
After mixing your ingredients and forming into patties, we suggest putting them down on a parchment paper-lined and oiled baking sheet and baking them in a 425°F oven for about 15 minutes to ensure you don’t end up with a crumbly mess. If you’re feeling experimental, you can finish your burgers under your broiler to give them a little crust.
- Bean burrito burger
Can’t decide between burgers or burritos? With this recipe, you don’t have to choose. Pulse about half of your black beans, then combine all of your beans with cooked rice, oat flour, cooked (and peeled) sweet potato chunks, corn, chopped walnuts and cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika. Don’t over mix, as you want your burgers to have some texture. Season your burger with salt before cooking. Serve on a bun and top with sliced avocado, vegan sour cream and pico de gallo.
- Spicy Pakistani BBQ burger
These Pakistan BBQ burgers look as hot as they taste — they’re bright red in colour thanks to the beets, kidney beans and seasoning mix (which contains red chili).
Shred your beets and combine with cooked rice, kidney beans, National Tikka Boti Recipe Mix, coconut yogurt, raw papaya, ginger and garlic paste, thinly sliced scallions and ground oats. Form into patties and season with salt before you cook.
Top your burger with some cooling fresh mint chutney and serve on chapati. If you want to amp up the spice even more feel free to add extra hot mango pickle.
- Green Monster Burger
This bright green plant-based burger truly looks like it was made from plants.
Pulse about half of your peas and combine with finely diced onion, spinach, cooked lentils, oats, parsley, garlic, quinoa and Italian spices.
Season with salt, cook, top with slices of roasted eggplant, vegan mayo and crispy lettuce and serve on a bun.
These simple plant-based burger recipes are tasty, healthy and easy-to-make and are also a great way to make use of those veggies you’ve been neglecting in your vegetable crisper.
