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Veggie Burger Formula

The Perfect Veggie Burger Formula

Contributor: Maria Siriano

Learn how to use the ingredients you already have on hand to make the best ever veggie burgers.

  • Author: Maria Siriano
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Refrigerate: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 8 burger patties 1x
  • Category: Entrée
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

STANDARD INGREDIENTS

  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 12 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • oil for cooking (e.g. olive oil, coconut oil, peanut oil)

2 CUPS COOKED VEGETABLES, FINELY DICED OR CHOPPED (PICK 1-3)

  • sweet potatoes
  • beets (golden or red)
  • carrots
  • mushrooms
  • spinach
  • kale
  • corn
  • squash
  • broccoli
  • cauliflower
  • artichokes
  • zucchini
  • bell peppers

1 CUP COOKED GRAINS (PICK 1)

  • millet
  • quinoa
  • bulgur
  • rice
  • buckwheat

1½ CUPS COOKED LEGUMES, LIQUID RESERVED (PICK 1-2)

  • canned beans (e.g. black, pinto, cannellini, kidney)
  • lentils (red or green)
  • chickpeas
  • soybeans
  • mung beans
  • adzuki beans
  • black eyed peas

½ CUP FLAVOR/TEXTURE BUILDERS (PICK 2)

  • fresh herbs, finely chopped (e.g. cilantro, basil, dill, parsley, thyme, sage, chives)
  • scallions, thinly sliced
  • chopped nuts (e.g. walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews)
  • chopped sundried tomatoes
  • chopped olives
  • flax seeds
  • chia seeds
  • sesame seeds
  • mashed avocado
  • unsweetened nut butter (e.g. peanut, almond, cashew)
  • tahini

3 TEASPOONS SPICES (PICK 2-4)

  • cumin
  • chili powder
  • smoked paprika
  • cayenne powder
  • Italian seasoning
  • black pepper
  • fennel
  • oregano
  • curry powder
  • coriander
  • cinnamon
  • turmeric
  • citrus zest

½ CUP DRY BASE (PICK 1)

  • ground oats
  • cornmeal
  • bread crumbs
  • panko
  • almond meal*

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and salt and cook until the onion is translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add vegetables and cook until soft, 5-10 minutes.
  2. Transfer the cooked vegetables to a food processor**. Add all remaining ingredients except the reserved bean liquid and frying oil. Pulse 5-10 times to combine. Don’t overdo it; you don’t want a paste!
  3. Press the mixture between your fingers. If you can form a patty with it, you’re good to go. If it’s too crumbly, add the reserved bean liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it sticks together. If the mixture is too wet, add more of the dry base ingredient, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach the right consistency. Taste the mixture and add salt to your taste.
  4. Form the mixture into 8 patties (about ⅓ cup of the mixture each) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate the patties uncovered for 30 minutes. (Don’t skip this step! Resting will help the patties stay together.)
  5. When ready to cook, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook 3-4 patties at a time until brown on one side, then flip and brown the other side. It should take about 3-4 minutes per side. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan before cooking each batch of burgers.
  6. Serve immediately or cool and then wrap each burger in foil, place them in a freezer bag, and freeze for later.  Reheat in a dry pan on the stove, in the oven or in the microwave. 

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Notes

*We’ve heard from a reader that almond flour doesn’t work in place of almond meal. We’re doing testing now and once we know for sure, we will revise the recipe to reflect this issue. Until then, be sure you’re using almond meal and not almond flour.

**You can also do this in a large bowl with a potato masher. Just make sure your veggies are cooked so they are soft enough to mash! Use a potato masher or large mixing spoon to mix and mash the ingredients together.