How to Make Homemade Veggie Burgers

Serve veggie burgers just like ground beef patties.

Vegetarians do not necessarily have to give up eating hearty burgers. Veggie burgers are a great alternative to serve on buns just like ground beef burgers. Frozen veggie burgers are available in the supermarket, but they taste better if you make them yourself. Homemade veggie burgers freeze well, so make a large batch all at once that will last several weeks.

Things You'll Need

• Small onion
• Stalk of celery
• 1/2 tsp. plus a pinch of salt
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• Carrot
• 5 tbsp. barbecue sauce
• 1/3 cup cooked barley
• 16-ounce can of cooked pinto or black beans
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup walnuts
• 2 tsp. soy sauce
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tbsp.chopped parsley
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Freezer bags

Instructions

1. Chop a small onion and a stalk of celery. Saute them with a pinch of salt for 12 to 14 minutes in 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in two cloves of chopped garlic, a finely grated carrot and 5 tbsp. barbecue sauce. Cook another two minutes. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

2. Put the sautéed ingredients in a food processor along with 1/3 cup cooked barley, a 16-ounce can of cooked pinto or black beans, 1/3 cup breadcrumbs, 1/3 cup of chopped walnuts, 2 tsp. soy sauce, two egg whites, 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley and ½ tsp. salt. Pulse the food processor until the mixture is fine, but some chunks remain.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use your hands to form the mixture into six equal patties, ½ inch thick. Place the patties on the baking sheet. Place the baking pan in the refrigerator for between one and four hours to firm up the burgers.

4. Heat a skillet over medium heat and pour in 1 tbsp. of olive oil. Cook the veggie burgers six minutes per side and serve hot.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve homemade veggie burgers on toasted buns. Top with mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato slices or pickles. Another serving suggestion is to top with fresh fried onion rings or a little mayonnaise.

• If you want to freeze the veggie burgers for later, put them on the baking sheet in Step 3 and place the baking sheet in the freezer instead of the refrigerator. When the patties are completely frozen, put them in freezer bags and seal. When you are ready to cook them, thaw them completely in the refrigerator before cooking in the skillet.

• Experiment with making veggie burgers. Alter the ingredients to your taste. Try Worcestershire sauce instead of barbecue or soy sauce. Use cooked quinoa or red lentils instead of barley.

References

• FoodNetwork.com: Perfect Veggie Burgers