Giving Veggie Burgers a Shot

Does the concept of a veggie burger freak you out? Do you envision a rock solid, brown, nasty disc of scrap food sitting on a bun? That’s what I used to think. I avoided all vegetarian meals, especially the “veggie burger”. But now, things have changed. Over the past few years I started weeding meat out of my diet, and since January of this year, I’ve been meat-free. Veggie burgers have become one of my favorite meals, and I’m about to make them one of yours.

First, you should order at a restaurant. The consistency is going to be different, it's probably going to be bean-based and it’s definitely going to be different from your standard burger. Veggie burgers are not made to replace the taste of beef.

A few things to keep in mind to prevent ordering a bad veggie burger at a restaurant:

• Make sure the ingredients are listed. If they aren’t, ask your waiter. If your waiter stumbles, it’s probably frozen. Don’t bother ordering at this point.
• Veggie burger does not always equal healthy burger. Be cautious of your sides and toppings. It doesn’t need to have double cheddar cheese or, God-forbid, bacon.
• If your first experience fails, don’t give up. Most veggie burgers are different if they are made in house.

After you’ve found your dream veggie burger out at a restaurant, it’s time to try and make them at home. Here are a few basic tips:

• Start with beans. Beans are a great base for the burger because when they are mashed, they hold everything together. My favorite (and the most common) is black beans.
• Add your favorites. Homemade veggie burgers can be made of anything that you want: rice, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, onions, potatoes, asparagus, carrots, etc. The options are endless.
• Add some other things to keep it all together. Once you mash everything together, it needs to stick. Bread crumbs and eggs are helpful ingredients.
• George Forman grills are not great for veggie burgers. They get flat and dry out quickly. I suggest pan frying or grilling on a standard grill.

Here basic recipe to get you started. It’s one of my favorites.

Are you ready to give veggie burgers a shot? I’d love to know how it turns out!