The Really Hungry Burger

Anna Jones

Is there anything better than a hearty vegan burger to satisfy your hunger cravings?

This burger recipe is a healthy twist on the classic junk food but doesn’t compromise on flavour.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Makes 8 patties

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Ingredients

Olive oil

6 big portobello mushrooms, roughly chopped into little bits

A few sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves picked

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 × 400g tin of white beans, haricot or cannellini, well-drained

4 fat Medjool dates, pitted

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

A small bunch of fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 tablespoons tahini

2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari

200g cooked and cooled brown rice (100g raw weight)

50g breadcrumbs or oats

Grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon

To serve:

1–2 avocados, peeled and sliced

Tomato relish or ketchup

Pickled cucumber

A few handfuls of spinach leaves

8 seeded burger buns

Is there anything better than a hearty vegan burger to satisfy your hunger cravings?

This burger recipe is a healthy twist on the classic junk food but doesn’t compromise on flavour.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Makes 8 patties

Method

Get a large pan on a medium heat and add a splash of olive oil. Once the pan is good and hot, add the mushrooms and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Fry on a good heat until the mushrooms have dried out and are slightly browned, then set to one side and leave to cool.

Next, drain the white beans and put them into a food processor with the dates, garlic, parsley, tahini and soy sauce. Pulse until you have a smoothish mixture, then transfer to a bowl and add the rice, breadcrumbs, lemon zest and the cooled mushrooms. Mix well, then put into the fridge for 10 minutes or so to firm up.

Once cooled, divide the mixture into 8 portions and shape into 8 patties. Place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper and pop into the fridge until needed. (This can be done the day before – and the burgers freeze well at this point.)

Preheat your oven to 230°C/fan 210°C/gas 8 and bake the burgers for 15 minutes, until nicely brown. If you like cheese on your burger, pop a slice on top a couple of minutes before they come out of the oven.

While your burgers are cooking, get your toppings ready.

Once the burgers are golden, toast your buns and layer up your burgers.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Try these easy bean burgers too!