Cooking With Lisa

Lisa Viger Gotte is a Chelsea resident passionate about plant-based cuisine and loves showing others how simple, delicious, healthy, and joyful it can be. A vegan diet improved her own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and she’s seen it do the same in others! She is also an artist, cookbook author, MSVA Vegan Life Coach, and RYT 200 yoga teacher. You can learn more about her and find more tasty recipes at planted365.com.

By Lisa Viger Gotte

Vegan burgers are plant-based alternatives to traditional meat-based burgers. They’re made with a variety of healthy and tasty plant-based ingredients, such as beans, grains, vegetables, and soy protein, and can be seasoned with a variety of spices and herbs to create a flavorful and satisfying meal.

There are many reasons why people choose to eat vegan burgers. For some, it is a way to reduce their consumption of animal products for ethical or environmental reasons. Others choose vegan burgers for health reasons, as plant-based diets are often associated with lower rates of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Whatever the reason, they’re super tasty!

One of the most popular ingredients in vegan burgers is black beans, which are a good source of protein and fiber. Other ingredients commonly used in vegan burgers include lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms. These ingredients can be mashed, chopped, or ground together to form a patty-like texture that can be grilled, baked, or pan-fried.

Veggie burgers can be made to mimic the taste and texture of meat-based burgers and can be flavored with a variety of spices and herbs to create unique and delicious flavor combinations. They can be served on a traditional bun with lettuce, tomato, and other toppings, or they can be served in a variety of other ways, such as on top of a salad or in a wrap. Other topping ideas that I’ve really enjoyed are mashed avocado, pickled beets, arugula, onion rings, thinly sliced cucumbers, spicy mayo, and any vegan cheese.

Overall, vegan burgers are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional meat-based burgers and offer a variety of benefits for those who choose to eat them. Here are two plant-based recipes that anyone can enjoy!

Black Bean Burger Recipe

Black bean burgers are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional meat-based burgers. Here’s a recipe to make your own black bean burgers:

Ingredients:

1 can black beans, drained, rinsed, and patted dry with a paper towel

1/2 cup breadcrumbs (can use gluten-free)

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup diced bell pepper

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 tbsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water)

Olive Oil for frying or baking

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375°F if baking the burgers or heat a skillet over medium heat if frying.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the black beans with a fork or potato masher. Add the breadcrumbs, diced onion, diced bell pepper, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and flax egg to the bowl. Mix well to combine.

Form the mixture into four to six patties, depending on how big you want your burgers.

If frying, add a little bit of olive oil to the skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the burgers to the skillet and cook for three to four minutes on each side until they are crispy and golden brown. If baking, place the burgers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Serve the black bean burgers on buns with your favorite toppings, such as avocado, lettuce, tomato, and salsa.

Mushroom Burger Recipe

Mushroom burgers are a delicious vegetarian or vegan alternative to traditional meat burgers. They are often made with hearty portobello mushrooms but any mushroom will do! Here’s a recipe for chopped mushroom burgers that are packed with flavor:

Ingredients:

1 lb. mushrooms, chopped

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup diced onion

1/4 cup diced celery

1/4 cup diced carrot

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp dried thyme

Salt and black pepper, to taste

Burger buns and toppings of your choice (lettuce, tomato, onion)

Instructions:

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.

Add the chopped mushrooms, diced onion, diced celery, diced carrot, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for eight to ten minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the vegetables are softened.

Transfer the mushroom mixture to a large mixing bowl and add the breadcrumbs, soy sauce, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.

Form the mixture into four to six patties, depending on how big you want your burgers.

Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the patties to the grill and cook for three to four minutes on each side, or until they are crispy and golden brown.

Serve the mushroom burgers on buns with your desired toppings.

Enjoy!

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