The Best Vegan Beet Burger Recipe • Cultured Guru (2024)

FAQs

What makes vegan burgers stick together? ›

Flax: ground flaxseed is our egg substitute to help the patties stick together so they don't fall apart when you cook them.

Mashed avocado or white miso make great vegan burger binders, with egg replacers, wheat germ, bread crumbs, oats and ground flax seeds also being effective choices. We recommend Beyond Meat burger patties which also keep their shape beautifully.

This veggie burger provides about one-third of your daily fiber needs. Be sure to top it with even more veggies.

The key ingredient — and the answer to many of your Impossible Burger questions — is heme. According to the company, heme is what makes the burger taste like meat, helps it stay juicy, and makes it look a bit red or pink in the center (26).

Common binding agents include flax eggs (a mixture of ground flaxseed and water), chia seeds, mashed potatoes, tapioca flour, or even your favorite nut butter. These ingredients help hold everything together and prevent your burger from crumbling.

Tamari, balsamic vinegar, and mirin bring out the savory flavor of the mushrooms. Smoked paprika and sriracha make these burgers smoky and spicy. Finely chopped garlic and shallots add depth of flavor. Crushed walnuts give them a meaty bite.

Flaxseed (aka linseed)

Combine a tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water, stir to combine, and let stand for 5 minutes to thicken. Ground flaxseed emulates eggs' binding qualities in breads, cakes, muffins, cookies, burgers, and vegan meatballs.

Packaged veggie burgers (like Morning Star Farms or Boca) can also be a part of a healthy eating plan. They're a quick and convenient way to enjoy a meatless meal and typically run from 70 to 130 calories per patty. Pair with a whole-grain bun and pile the fresh veggies high for a well-balanced meal.

Press the burger firmly and observe the colour of the juices that run out. If they're red the burger will be pink inside. If they're clear the burger will be cooked through.

Heme is found in a protein called hemoglobin that is found in every living plant and animal, and is something we've been eating since the dawn of humanity. This ingredient not only makes Impossible Burgers taste like meat, but helps them stay juicy, moist, and slightly red at the center.

Why can't you eat impossible meat raw? ›

Impossible burgers still need to be cooked to temp!

Though the risk of food-borne illness is smaller for these burgers than for actual meat burgers, there is still some chance. They are made from legumes, grains, and vegetables, and those can become contaminated with pathogenic bacteria.

Eggs are the most common and effective binder, and egg replacers are an excellent alternative for vegan burgers. Other common binders include wheat germ, bread crumbs, oats, and ground flaxseeds. These are dry ingredients, though the recipe's other ingredients often add just enough moisture to make a sufficient binder.

If you want a veggie burger that holds together, use binding agents like cooked grains (rice, quinoa, millet), eggs, flax eggs, bread crumbs, oats, flour or nut/seed flours like almond flour. The amount of grains or flour will depend on the recipe, but it's usually anywhere from ¼ to 1 cup.

The most commonly used binding agent for hamburger patties is eggs. They work well with ground meat and are easy to incorporate into the rest of your ingredients.

Add cooked quinoa, cooled onion-garlic mixture, flour, spices, salt and egg. Stir or mash until well combined and place mixture in fridge to chill for 30 minutes (or up to overnight) – this will help the burger patties hold together better while cooking.