Did you know 2019 is dubbed “the year of the vegan“?
For years veganism has been a minority, but it’s becoming more and more mainstream. And businesses are jumping on the bandwagon. Even McDonalds offers a McVegan burger on their menu!
But whether you’ve taken the path to veganism or not, you may feel curious about vegan meat alternatives. Can a veggie burger really taste just as good as a classic beef burger? Find burgers near me to find a great place to try out.
As you’ll see from the options below, these meat alternatives aren’t all lettuce leaves and avocado. In fact, these meat substitutes might even fool you into thinking you’re eating meat.
Are you ready? Let’s take a look at 10 recipes that pack a meatless punch.
10 Veggie Meats That Will Make You Second Guess Yourself
Whether you’re looking at the menu of a vegetarian restaurant or you’re searching for vegetarian meat to cook at home, there are many cool options. It really is the year of the vegan. Most recipes include ingredients you can find in your local grocery store, while others are a bit more exotic.
But the best thing about these next 10 meat alternatives is that they might actually fool you into thinking you’re eating meat. They really do taste like the real deal. So don’t deny it until you try it!
Here are our top 10 favorite plant-based burgers.
1. Black Bean Burgers
Black beans are great meat alternatives because they have a dense texture. This gives the eater the illusion of munching on a beef burger. Even non-vegans love this treat.
Incorporate black beans with pulses and vegetables, such as onion and garlic. Then add spices such as cumin, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and paprika. To bind the ingredients together into a pattie, use ketchup or BBQ sauce.
Mash it all together with a fork, or gently use a food processor. Don’t overdo it, as you want the black beans to maintain their bulky texture. If you’re cooking it yourself, to stop the beans from being mushy the secret is to partially dry the beans before adding other ingredients.
Pair your black bean burger with a sourdough bun and a funky salad. But if you want to get creative, skip the burger bun and top it off with avocado, caramelized onion, and roasted red peppers instead.
2. Jackfruit “Pulled Pork” Burgers
Pulled pork jackfruit burgers are an exotic, yet popular choice. This meat-like fruit is one of the biggest vegan trends in the US right now. You can even buy a vegan jackfruit pizza at Pizza Hut!
So what’s everyone raving about? The fruit mocks the texture of meat down to a tee. And because it absorbs any flavor you want, it’s perfect for mimicking that pulled pork flavor.
But make sure to choose the right jackfruit. Young green jackfruit packed in water is the best for cooking. If it’s canned in syrup or brine, the fruit will taste too sweet and you won’t achieve the right effect.
After boiling in vegetable broth or water, mix canned jackfruit with BBQ sauce, onions, paprika, and garlic. Fry it up until golden and voila. Serve in a simple toasted bun with coleslaw or a slice of grilled pineapple, and let the taste do the talking.
3. Portobello Mushroom Burgers
Portobello mushrooms have an excellent texture and unique taste. They are also the perfect size and shape to use as a burger substitute.
Just like cooking meat, first, marinate the mushrooms. Use a mixture of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and Italian seasoning. Leave for 20-30 minutes to give the mushrooms a rich meaty flavor. Grill or sautee in olive oil.
Top off the veggie meat burger with grilled red onion, roasted red pepper, spinach, tomatoes, and avocado.
4. Chickpea Burgers
Chickpeas (or Garbanzo beans) have the perfect texture and bulk to create a hearty patty that sticks together. Low in fat and rich in fiber, the beans are extremely versatile. This means you can customize your burger to however you fancy.
A tasty way to make a chickpea burger is to sautee it with veggies, legumes, and whole grains. Serve with zesty mango salsa and a vegan ciabatta bun for a Mediterranian experience.
First cook some veggies in a pan, such as onions, carrots, cauliflower, and garlic. Add your chickpeas, some quinoa, some rolled oats, and a cup of parsley. Don’t forget to add herbs and spices for that wow factor, such as cumin, chili powder, paprika, and garlic salt.
Add a few teaspoons of chickpea liquid from the can and pulse it all together. But don’t overdo it or it may become too mushy.
5. Cauliflower Burgers
The humble cauliflower has become a vegan’s best friend. Many use it as an alternative to rice or as a meat substitute in casseroles and curries. In a similar way, cauliflower is great veggie meat for burgers.
As cauliflower is a crumbly vegetable, you will need to add grains and binders to make a solid patty. Try using quinoa to add bulk to the gently-pulsed cauliflower. Incorporate with garlic salt, cayenne seasoning, almond flour, and drizzle with olive oil.
Lather with avocado and a layer of cilantro and red cabbage lime slaw. Serve in a vegan pita bread bun and enjoy the zesty treat with a good conscience.
6. Quinoa Burgers
Quinoa is a superfood that’s related to vegetables like spinach. Although it looks like it, it’s not a grain, it’s a naturally gluten-free seed. Which makes it a better alternative to pasta, white rice, and white bread.
You’ll note, quinoa is a great meat substitute to use as a filler in all veggie burgers. But you can also make a burger with quinoa as the main ingredient.
Mix quinoa with yellow onion, garlic, sea salt, and almond meal. Use tomato paste as a binder and mash it all with a fork. Cook the patties on a hot skillet with avocado oil.
Serve with sourdough bread buns, a handful of sauteed mushrooms and some crunchy slaw.
7. Mushroom and Barley Burgers
Watch out! This plant-based recipe might fool you into thinking you’re eating meat. And it’s so simple.
Fry chopped mushrooms in a pan, then add them to a blender with the other ingredients. Start by adding cooked pearl barley, hazelnut flour, and dry sherry. Add some celery salt, oregano, and paprika for some extra spice.
To bind the mixture, use mash potato instead of eggs. But if the tender mixture isn’t sticking together well, try refrigerating for a couple of hours.
Serve with a side of fruity rainbow salad or quinoa stuffed peppers.
8. Sweet Potato Burgers
Another meat substitute that is great for burgers is sweet potatoes. Once cooked, they’re soft and malleable, which makes them easy to combine with a mixture of ingredients.
Combine baked sweet potato with butter beans, cooked brown rice, maple syrup, and tahini. Add spices and seasonings, such as paprika and chipotle to add some spice. If the mixture is too sticky to form into patties, add a little oat flour as a binder.
Finish it off with a grilled pineapple slice, butter lettuce, and sweet tomato chutney. But these patties actually taste great without any toppings at all. So why not try eating them like a fritter without a bun or crumble on top of a salad for a light lunch instead?
9. Beet Burgers
Yes, beet burgers, not beef burgers! Not only is the color of these burgers incredible, but the earthy taste is to die for.
Mix together in a processor grated beetroot, rolled oats, lentils, and all-purpose flour. Add some crushed garlic, chopped yellow onions, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. But the real secret is to add a dollop of peanut butter for a nutty, buttery taste.
The mixture may become quite moist. So keep your hands damp when you’re shaping them into patties.
Fry them or bake them to perfection. Then serve them in a wholemeal burger bun with sun-dried tomatoes, sliced courgette, and a dash of mustard.
10. Vegan Meat Tofu Burgers
Of course, no meat substitute list is complete without a trip to tofu land! Tofu is a good source of protein and contains amino acids essential to a healthy diet. Mix it with some vegetables and you have the perfect texture for a burger.
Try combining tofu with grated carrot, spring onions, garlic, and ginger. Don’t forget to add sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and a squeeze of lime to add some zing. Bind it together with sweet chili sauce (and keep some aside for serving too).
Serve in flat pita bread with a green salad, extra spring onions, and a dollop of leftover sweet chili sauce.
All You Need Is Plants
Isn’t it amazing what you can do with plants and veggies? Even if you’re a meat-lover these vegan meat alternatives sound extremely enticing. So which one will you try out?
For more mouth-watering food ideas and recipes, check out the “Food” section of this blog.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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