These veggie burgers have a rich flavor that comes from using just the right vegan proteins and seasonings.
Now, here’s how to bring a savory, satisfying mouthfeel to a veggie burger.
This recipe gets inventive by incorporating brown rice, walnuts, sunflower seeds, chili powder, black beans, panko bread crumbs, and vegan barbecue sauce to create the most “meaty” vegan burger possible.
The ingredients here add depth to the recipe, like umami-rich black beans, tart, sweet, and sour vegan BBQ sauce, and earthy walnuts. Then, you fry the patties up in your skillet and form a crusty, crispy exterior.
So, yeah. You don’t need meat to hit your taste buds. Hard.
How Veggie Burgers Can Be The Most Delicious Burger You’ve Ever Tasted
It’s been through studying Japanese cooking that I learned how truly savory flavors can be created not so much by meat as by umami-yielding seasonings—especially when combined with things like vegan-friendly nuts, beans, and legumes. Indeed, many meatless dishes bring a deeply satisfying eating experience from the mere use of black beans, but this recipe has so much more.
And, vegan ingredients can bring so much flavor to a dish, it’s not like you’re asking, “Where’s the beef?” You’re too busy going, “Veggie burgers taste amazing.”
Now that vegan cooking has been around for a minute, we’re improving at creating vegan dishes with a deeply savory, beefy flavor, without meat. Legumes, seeds, nuts, and beans are all absorbent kinds of vegan proteins that get all plump and juicy when rubbed against a tangy, sweet BBQ sauce.
Toasting those nuts and seeds in step one, too, helps the BBQ sauce penetrate the tough exteriors of their shells and then fill them with flavor, creating a meatless yet meaty flavor that’s popping up everywhere.
FAQs & Tips
How Do I Store Leftovers?
The best way to store these burgers is to wrap them individually in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply defrost in the fridge overnight or microwave on defrost until they’re thawed. Then, start heating them in 30-second bursts.
What Are The Most Amazing Toppings For Veggie Burgers?
I actually had a spiritual experience eating a burger topped with a layer of perfectly fresh avocado, sautéed onions, and a blanket of melted vegan cheese. You could also add jalapeño slices for a little extra heat.
Can You Make Veggie Burgers Gluten-Free?
Yes, you can. Simply substitute gluten-free (GF) burger buns, of course, and make sure to select a vegan and gluten-free barbecue sauce, like Annie’s Homegrown Organic BBQ Sauce, Original Recipe, which is certified vegan and gluten-free. Also, you’ll find a great GF panko breadcrumb in 4C’s highly recommended GF line.
Serving Suggestions
These veggie burgers taste delicious with a variety of sides. Vegan Coleslaw would be especially welcome here, with its sweet, tangy, bitter, and creamy notes, and you can spoon some right on top of that luscious burger. Another great side for the non-vegan diners? My new favorite one: this Easy Cheesy Potato Casserole. Those creamy potatoes, all scattered with melted cheese and cornflakes, are the perfect complement to these.
Veggie Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 3/4 cup white onion finely diced
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 5 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons vegan BBQ sauce
- 4 burger buns lightly toasted
- Sliced tomato for serving
- Fresh romaine lettuce for serving
- Sliced red onion for serving
Instructions
- Toast walnuts and sunflower seeds in a skillet until golden and fragrant. Remove from skillet and sauté onion with olive oil until translucent.
- In a food processor, blend toasted walnuts and seeds with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until a fine meal is achieved.
- In a large bowl, mash black beans. Add cooked rice, spiced walnut mixture, sautéed onion, panko breadcrumbs, and BBQ sauce. Mix until a moldable dough forms.
- Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts and shape into patties.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, lightly oil it, and cook patties for about 4 minutes on each side or until well browned and heated through.
- Serve the veggie burgers on buns with toppings and condiments, such as vegan mayonnaise.
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