Whether we’re at a restaurant or a weekend barbecue, it always breaks our hearts just a little to get a veggie burger that’s little more than a dry, beige puck. There’s absolutely no reason the vegetarian option can’t be as flavorful, savory, and robust as its carnivorous counterpart — if not even more of a gastronomic delight. These four veggie burgers are worthy occupants of any bun — no faux-meat here, just fantastically delicious combinations of beans, vegetables, legumes, and grains.
A far cry from the standard grilled-mushroom-cap-as-burger, these ultra-savory portobello patties get a further umami boost from garlic and steak sauce—a perfect match for a flavorful topping of melted blue cheese and tangy caramelized red onions.
We took inspiration from falafel when developing these burgers—but unlike the dense, often dry deep-fried chickpea fritters, this sautéed patty is both light and rich in texture, with added depth from roasted garlic.
Our take on a classic meatless burger calls on a slew of vegetables for flavor, color, and texture: carrot, celery, arugula, beans, and—the ingredient that really makes it—quinoa, the high-protein South American grain that has a nutty flavor and toothsome bite. This veggie burger is infinitely versatile when it comes to toppings, but we particularly like it with a cumin-accented relish of roasted red peppers.
