Cooks Illustrated Veggie Burgers Recipes

VEGGIE BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C/350F (standard) or 160C/320F (fan/convection).
• Pile mushrooms on a baking tray. Drizzle over oil, toss, then spread on the tray.
• Spread beans on another tray, sprinkle carrots all over.
• Put beans on top shelf and mushrooms on the shelf underneath.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until surface of beans is dried out and splitting and they look thoroughly unappetising, and the carrots around the edge of the tray are a bit golden. (Note 5) Remove tray with beans from oven.
• Move mushrooms to top shelf, bake for further 10 minutes until dried out and wrinkly. Remove from oven, cool.
• Place cashews in food processor. Blitz until they are breadcrumb size, don't blitz to powder.
• Add beans, mushrooms and carrot. Blitz on high for 10 seconds or until chopped to large crumb size (see video and photos).
• Add breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan, garlic, paprika, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Blitz for 15 - 30 seconds until it comes together like meat burger mixture but you can still see bits in it. (Note 6)
• Add rice and shallots, blitz for 2 seconds until just dispersed (over blitzed rice = gluey).
• Mixture should hold together well to form patties, but not stick to hands. If too wet, add breadcrumbs. If too crumbly, blitz more.
• Shape into 4 - 6 patties, between 1.5 - 1.8cm / 0.6 - 0.7" thick and 10cm / 4" wide (Note 7). Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Cook burgers cold, straight from the fridge.
• Heat 2 - 3 tbsp olive oil skillet on the stove over medium to medium-high heat.
• Add 3 - 4 patties and cook until deep golden and crispy, 4 minutes. Carefully flip then cook the other side for 4 minutes until golden, then transfer to paper towel lined plate to drain.
• Cook cold, straight from fridge. Brush BBQ and Veggie patties with oil. Heat BBQ to medium high. Cook 4 minutes each side until a nice dark crust forms.
• Toast buns, spread top bun with relish or sauce of choice. Top with your choice of burger fillings and the Veggie Burger, then more sauce if desired.

COOKS ILLUSTRATED VEGGIE BURGERS

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups water, lentils, and 1 tsp salt to boil in medium saucepan over high heat; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until lentils are just beginning to fall apart, about 25 minutes. Drain and dry. Cool lentils to room temperature. While lentils simmer, bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt to boil in small saucepan. Stir bulgur wheat into boiling water and cover; let stand off heat until water is absorbed, 15-20 minutes. Drain in fine-mesh strainer; press out excess moisture. Transfer bulgur to medium bowl and set aside. Heat 1 tbsp oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, leek, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Spread vegetable mixture on second baking sheet to cool; set aside. Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to skillet; heat then add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Spread mushrooms on baking sheet with vegetable mixture; cool to room temperature. Process cashews in food processor until finely chopped; stir into bulgur along with cooled lentils, vegetable-mushroom mixture, and mayonnaise. Transfer half of mixture to food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped; mixture should be cohesive but roughly textured. Transfer mixture to large bowl; repeat with remaining mixture. Stir in panko, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Line baking sheet with paper towels. Divide mixture into 12 portions, about 1/2 cup each; set patties on baking sheet. (Patties can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 3 days.) Grill burgers, without moving them, until well browned, about 5 minutes; flip burgers and continue cooking until well browned on second side, about 5 minutes.