If you are an avid meat eater and enjoy tucking into a big and juicy burger, the idea of switching to a plant-based alternative may not excite you. But with the right ingredients and fragrant aromatics, these easy and indulgent burger recipes will not have you missing the meat.
Whether you are looking for delicious new ways to include more veggies into your diet or simply want to add new recipes into your cooking rotation, plant-based burgers can be as hearty and satisfying as their traditional counterpart and the perfect complement to a crisp and cold Heaps Normal Beer on a sunny weekend afternoon.
Miso Burgers With Mint & Pomegranate Slaw
Miso burgers are a fantastic, healthy vegetarian dish made with chickpeas, bulgar wheat, and plenty of aromatics. They perfectly complement a refreshing mint and pomegranate slaw. In a separate pan, boil the bulghur until soft while you cook the onions, garlic, chili, and shredded carrots.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then add them to a bowl and mash them to your preferred consistency. Add the eggs and miso to form a chunky pasta. Drain the wheat and combine everything with spices and herbs to form patties, which can be baked in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
For the slaw, add red onion, shredded carrots, mint, white cabbage pomegranate seeds, and a slosh of cider vinegar and olive oil. This will provide a fresh burst of flavor against the umami of the patties.
Chickpea & Nut Burgers
Chickpea and nut burgers taste delicious, both hot and cold. They can be enjoyed as patties or rolled into small falafel balls, eaten in wraps or pita breads, or as part of a charcuterie board.
Put garlic, onion, nuts, and spices into a food processor with lots of freshly ground black pepper and blitz until it is as smooth as possible. Drain and rinse your chickpeas before adding them to the processor, along with flour, lemon juice, and coriander or parsley, blitzing until the mixture comes together to form a thick paste. Leave the mixture slightly chunky to give the patties some texture and bite. Turn them into patties or falafel balls and pan-fry them until golden brown and cooked through.
Sweet Potato Burgers
If you are short on time or simply don’t want to spend all evening in the kitchen, sweet potato burgers are the recipe for you. This delicious and hearty recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and perfectly complements toppings like mayo, red onion, and spicy kimchi, delivering the perfect combination of spicy and savory.
Blend together cooked mashed sweet potato and rinsed and drained white beans before transferring to a large bowl. Add panko bread crumbs, garlic powder, ginger, green onion, turmeric, cayenne, cilantro or parsley, and plenty of salt and pepper, adjusting seasonings to your taste.
Spiced Halloumi & Pineapple Burgers
Pack in four of your five-a-day with a delicious veggie burger topped with spiced, barbecued halloumi and a tangy pineapple ring. This tasty and filling combination can be served on your favorite burger buns or wrapped in lettuce cups for a healthy, low-calorie option.
Simply mix together cabbage, carrot, radish, and coriander in a bowl, along with lime juice, oil, chili flakes, and salt and pepper, to make a simple and tasty veggie patty. Coat your halloumi slices with a mix of olive oil and chipotle paste before grilling it alongside your pineapple on the BBQ. Put the halloumi on a sheet of foil to prevent it from sticking to the grill.
Smokey Tempeh Burgers
If you have never had a tempeh burger, you may be missing out on your new favorite dish. Tempeh is a fantastic vegan alternative to traditional beef patties, with a firm yet chewy texture.
These delicious patties, made from a blend of mushrooms, tempeh, and black beans, pack an incredible umami flavor thanks to miso paste, fresh herbs, onions, and spices. For added flavor, pre-cook the mushrooms, onion, and garlic together before mixing them into the blended tempeh and black beans mixture. Add sweet corn or shredded carrots for an extra veggie boost.
Avocado Bean Burgers
The combination of creamy smashed avocado, tangy pickled gherkin sauce, and earthy butterbeans make for the ultimate vegetarian burger. Pan-fry a finely diced onion and minced garlic until soft and aromatic. Add your butterbeans, a squeeze of line, fajita seasoning, and salt and pepper, cooking for roughly 5 minutes. Blend the mixture together with olive oil and breadcrumbs until it reaches a stiff consistency that holds together.
Thanks to the beans and added bread crumbs, these patties hold their shape well. You can grill them on the BBQ, pan-fry them, or bake them in the oven or an air fryer as a healthier alternative. Alternatively, you can turn them into vegetarian meatballs to store in the freezer.
Roasted Vegetable Burgers
If you aren’t a fan of meat alternatives but still enjoy a big and juicy burger, a roasted vegetable burger may be the thing for you. It is filled to the brim with a medley of delicious roasted veggies, a tangy marinara sauce, and a pop of fresh greens. You can swap out the vegetables for seasonal favorites or whatever you may have in the fridge.
Avoid using vegetables with high water content to prevent your burger from becoming too mushy. Options like mushrooms, bell peppers, aubergines, courgettes, and onions can be roasted to caramelized perfection, offering the right amount of juiciness while still remaining a substantial bite.