Veggie burgers are patties made from vegetables and grains, as an alternative to meat. There are a number of different types of veggie burgers available on the market, and they are also relatively easy to make at home, for consumers who want to make their own varieties. Commercial veggie burgers break down into three basic categories: vegan veggie burgers, vegetarian veggie burgers, and veggie burgers which are made as a part of various ethnic cuisines. Within each category, there are a number of options.
Vegan veggie burgers are made without the use of any animal sourced ingredients. Boca burgers are a popular vegan brand, made using soy as a base with a variety of flavor additions. Several companies also make vegan seitan veggie burgers, using wheat gluten. In addition, vegan veggie burgers can be made from tempeh, a fermented soy product which started to grow in popularity in the 1990s.
Vegetarian veggie burgers are made with animal products such as eggs and milk, but no meat. Gardenburger is one of the most popular vegetarian brands, but Boca also makes a vegetarian line of veggie burgers, as do several other companies. Typically soy or tempeh is used as the protein base, and flavor is added with vegetables and spices. Often, grains are mixed in for texture and taste.
Numerous countries make vegetable patties which could be viewed as veggie burgers. One of the most famous is falafel, which is made throughout the Middle East. Falafel is made by grinding chickpeas with an assortment of spices and deep frying the resulting patties, which are typically served on pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, tahini, and other Middle Eastern ingredients. Africa and Asia also have vegetable patties of their own, made with local ingredients and served in a variety of ways. In South America, some cooks make veggie burgers out of black beans which are rich, filling, and tasty.
Cooks can make their own veggie burgers with an assortment of ingredients. Try taking a variety of grains along with textured vegetable protein, mixing them in a blender, and then adding hot water to form a thick paste. Make the paste into patties and cook them in a skillet until brown. The dry mix can be kept in a cupboard until it is ready to use, making it a quick and easy meal. Numerous companies also sell dry veggie burger mix, to which cooks can add sauteed vegetables and spices to taste.