For some reason, vegetarians like to stick with the old goat's cheese option when it comes to burgers, but there are thousands of ways to make an exciting, flavourful veggie burger for them too. If you're one of those chefs who likes to cater to the needs of your guests on a plant-based diet, you'll love this article!
With a growing body of research showing the health benefits of a plant-based diet, even die-hard carnivores are trying to reduce their meat intake to in favour of vegetable substitutes. Vegetable burgers are a great place to start, thanks to their versatility and wide range of flavours.
Here too, it all depends on the raw material
It may seem obvious, but to make a delicious, tasty veggie burger, the ingredients need to be as fresh as possible. That way, they're not only more sustainable, but they contain more nutrients and taste better too. Depending on the type of veggie burger, common meat-free patty ingredients include fungi, onions, carrots, maize, beetroot, peas and spinach. As for toppings, there's nothing like the crunch of fresh lettuce and a locally grown, ripe tomato slice to elevate your veggie burger to gourmet status.
Season as you go
Meat eaters often complain that they don't eat veggie burgers because they lack salt, meaty taste. Since veggie burgers contain no animal fat, they require more seasoning than you might think. When you prepare the ingredients, make sure you salt them at every stage of preparation, not just at the end when you're using the mixture to form meatballs.
One of the advantages of making veggie burgers over meat burgers is that you can taste them at every stage of preparation, so you can constantly fine-tune the seasoning. Salt helps draw water out of the food, which concentrates the flavour of each ingredient. The reduced moisture content also means that the veggie burger won't get too moist and therefore won't fall apart during the cooking process.
Salt and pepper are probably the king of spices, but you can add many others to your veggie burger depending on what you're trying to achieve. A chilli and the Peppers can be a great choice for a babburger. If you want a slight Mexican effect, you can try with, or garam masala for an Indian-style burger.
Roasting vegetables
When making a veggie burger, you might think that all you need to do is throw together all the ingredients, form some patties and put them on the on the grill. However, if you first fry the vegetables you can get a nice, smoky, caramelized layer on the outside. This results in a richer, more complex flavour. So it's worth lightly caramelising each ingredient for a deeper flavour.
Add portobello mushrooms
Mushrooms are excellent umami flavour sources which can enhance the flavour of the vgeaburger, giving it a meaty taste without the real meat. Portobello mushrooms have a strong texture and succulent flavour, making them the perfect addition to any veggie burger that needs a little extra depth. Compared to most mushrooms, portobellos are large, about 10-15 cm in diameter, so similar to a meat pie - when cooked, they take on a deep brown colour, which is also similar to a classic beef stew. They are also excellent for marinating, so you can you can marinate them with various green spices. Whichever way you prepare them, portobellos are sure to give any veggie burger a big boost.
Throw some seeds on it
Although vegetables are the most obvious ingredients for a veggie burger, many other ingredients can enhance its taste and nutritional value. Adding nuts and seeds is a great way to incorporate a tasty nutty crunch into your patty. A vegan The best nuts to use in a veggie or vegetarian burger are those with a delicate, slightly salty flavour and a firm, crunchy texture. Hazelnuts, peanuts and pecans can be too much for the taste buds. A cashew, however, strikes the perfect balance between nuttiness and crunchy texture. It's a great complement to the other flavours of the veggie burger, while adding a little fat for a richer texture. Another great option is pine nuts, which are known for their flavor-enhancing potential. Meanwhile, pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber and magnesium, with an earthy flavor that pairs well with common veggie burger bases like black beans and sweet potatoes.
