Cookout season is upon us and burger lovers and vegetarians alike will clamor for these flavorful and filling veggie versions of our favorite grillable main.
Making your own veggie burgers is easier than it sounds and such a resourceful way to use leftovers that we’re not sure why we don’t make them more often. These burgers also freeze well so you can have an easy, vegetarian-friendly addition on hand all summer.
Note: Veggie burgers should bind together well before baking, but can be reassembled if they break during an overzealous flip.
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To Bind and to Hold
Something soft and mashable that can be used as binder is essential.
Steamed potatoes or sweet potatoes can be mashed with other ingredients to hold the burgers together.
Cooked whole grains add bulk to the burger, offering great texture.
Ground nuts and seeds act as flavorful binders, too, giving veggie burgers a heft often relegated to meat-based burgers.
Raw oatmeal can help to pull a looser veggie burger together.
Cooked beans can be mashed to serve as a binder or left whole for more texture.
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Add to the Mix
Fresh herbs and veggies enhance the texture of veggie burgers and spices and pantry staples (like capers, olives and nuts) add to the fun.
Chopped fresh herbs and spices can help to tie a veggie burger theme together – use cilantro and curry powder for Indian-inspired burgers and parsley and olives for Mediterranean-inspired patties.
Mix in thawed frozen peas or diced raw bell peppers for bright color and texture.
Capers and diced gherkins up the savory quotient.
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Top and Serve
While ketchup and mustard are fine, these flavor-packed veggie burgers give you an excuse to experiment.
Blend wasabi powder, fresh basil or curry powder into mayonnaise.
Slice ripe avocados and shred Swiss chard for a fun spin on the traditional tomato and lettuce garnish.
Grill red onion rings and bell peppers alongside your veggie burgers over the fire.
Serve veggie burgers atop a bed of greens, open-faced on toast or classically between buns.
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Have you ever made your own veggie burgers? Share your tips and techniques in the comments section below.
