Our Perfect Veggie Burger
Inspired by Whitewater Cooks. Crunchy, chewy, with a crispy outer shell, these delicious veggie burgers have all the right elements we love in a veggie burger. Light on the beans, these burgers arent mushy in the middle, but have a nice mixture of breadcrumbs, chopped almonds, sunflower seeds, and seasonings to round them out. Best of all, they work great in the oven, frying pan, or even on the BBQ. They can also be made gluten-free by using gluten-free oats, Tamari, and breadcrumbs. Dont have breadcrumbs? Just process a few slices of bread in the food processor for instant breadcrumbs. I used 3 slices of Ezekiel bread.
Inspired by Whitewater Cooks. Crunchy, chewy, with a crispy outer shell, these delicious veggie burgers have all the right elements we love in a veggie burger. Light on the beans, these burgers arent mushy in the middle, but have a nice mixture of breadcrumbs, chopped almonds, sunflower seeds, and seasonings to round them out. Best of all, they work great in the oven, frying pan, or even on the BBQ. They can also be made gluten-free by using gluten-free oats, Tamari, and breadcrumbs. Dont have breadcrumbs? Just process a few slices of bread in the food processor for instant breadcrumbs. I used 3 slices of Ezekiel bread.
- 1 large garlic clove minced
- 1/2 cup onion diced
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 tsp. cumin
- flax eggs: 2.5 tbsp ground flax + 1/2 cup warm wat mixed in bowl
- 1 cup oats processed into flour* (other flours might wor
- 1.5 cups bread crumbs (i processed 3 pieces of ezekiel brea
- 1 cup cooked black beans rinsed and roughly pureed or mashed
- heaping 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley (or fresh h
- 1/3 cup almonds chopped (toasted if preferred)
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds (toasted if preferred)
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp tamari (soy sauce)
- 1.5 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp. oregano
- fine grain sea salt and black pepper to taste
- Carbohydrate 89.68914 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 65.245705 g
- Fiber 31.5061498250961 g
- Protein 37.134675 g
- Saturated Fat 7.328651 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Recipe (536g)
- Sodium 122.644 mg
- Sugar 58.1829901749039 g
- Trans Fat 4.9622005 g
- Calories 1044 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 350F (if baking). In a large skillet, sauté onions and garlic in 1/2 tbsp oil. Mix your flax egg together in a small bowl and set aside for at least 10 mins while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Place all ingredients (except spices and salt) into a large mixing bowl and stir very well. Now, add seasonings and salt to taste.
- With slightly wet hands, shape dough into patties. Pack dough tightly as this will help it stick together. I made 8 medium patties.
- Cooking methods: You can fry the burgers in a bit of oil on a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side. If baking in the oven, bake for 25-30 mins (15-17 minutes on each side) at 350F, until golden and crisp. For the BBQ, pre-bake the burgers for about 15 minutes in oven before placing on a pre-heated grill until golden and crisp on each side. Our preferred method of cooking was frying in the skillet!! GF Note: To make these burgers gluten-free, use certified GF oats, GF Tamari, and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
When budget-friendly pantry staples like oats and beans form the foundation of a meal, structural integrity requires deliberate attention. Many plant-based patties collapse on the grill because they rely too heavily on moisture-rich legumes. This formulation limits black beans to one cup, shifting the primary binding duties to a flax egg and oat flour mixture. Allowing the ground flax and warm water to rest for ten minutes creates the necessary gelatinous matrix required to hold chopped almonds and sunflower seeds together without turning pasty.
Adapting for Dietary Needs
Modifying this formula for specific dietary requirements involves simple swaps. Replace standard breadcrumbs with certified gluten-free alternatives and substitute tamari for soy sauce to eliminate gluten entirely. Toasting the 1/3 cup of chopped almonds and 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds beforehand deepens the nutty undertones, compensating for the lack of animal proteins. Pack the raw dough tightly using slightly wet hands to prevent sticking and ensure the patties maintain their shape through whichever cooking medium you choose.
Choosing Your Cooking Method
Frying the patties in a skillet over medium heat for five minutes per side yields the crispiest exterior crust. Baking requires a 350F oven for 25 to 30 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Grilling demands a hybrid approach: pre-bake the formed discs in the oven for 15 minutes to set the interior before transferring them to hot grill grates. Doubling or halving the batch scales cleanly if you need to adjust production for smaller households or larger gatherings.
