Sunday, May 10, 2009

Thank You Joanna!

Reading through my list of vegan blogs yesterday I came across some very important information. Something that the people at Boca and Garden Burger don't want you to know. The secret diy burger formula. Joanna Vaught, creator of many a delicious recipe, posted a basic tried and true equation for making burgers just the way you want them or a different way every night. Whatever strikes your fancy. She just knows the way straight to my heart.

I had to get right on this. Could it be true? Oh the possibilities. My first thought was hoisin sauce. I wanted some. Hosin made me think stir fry, I had bell pepper and carrots already. And I was off.

This is what I came up with:
  • ~2 cups finely chopped carrots and shiitake mushrooms (vegetables)
  • 1 cup black beans and 1/4 cup sunflower seeds and 1/4 cup black sesame seeds (protein)
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
  • 3/4 cup vital wheat gluten
  • 1/4 cup oil and a splash of water (liquid)
  • 1 T black bean garlic sauce (liquid seasoning)
  • 2 tsp crumbled dry red chili and 1 tsp ground ginger (dry seasoning)
This made 6 good sized burgers to fill out our Ezekiel buns. Building went as follows: bottom of bun, Vegenaise, cucumber, greens, burger, pan fried red onion and orange bell pepper, hosin sauce on top bun. Unhinge jaw and eat.

I'm loving this formula. Brown rice and vital wheat gluten are a pantry staple. These burgers will take whatever you have around. Read through Joanna's suggestions and you'll get the idea. What a great way to pull together different theme patties or to just help clean out the cupboards in a super tasty way. Don't feel confined to burgers here either. Go for cutlets (add a little more gluten if you like more chewy texture) or balls (yeah I said it, balls) for a sub, pasta or whatever.

Have you checked out Yellow Rose Recipes? No? What is wrong with you?!?!

11 comments:

Jes said...

That looks really really good! I wouldn't have thought of using hoisin sauce in a burger, but the end result looks fabulous!

pinkhairedcyn said...

I am definitely going to make some veggie burgers using that formula! The idea of having my own homemade burgers in the freezer for when I get hungry is awesome.

aTxVegn said...

What an awesome burger! I can't wait for burgers on the grill all summer long.

Catherine Weber said...

I have had horrible luck with homemade veggie burgers to date -- they don't seem to stick together AT ALL. I bet adding the gluten helps with that?

Anonymous said...

I'm such a veggie burger slut - I love them & love making them. Once I figured out the glory of the gluten my life got so much easier!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

I had quite the veggie burger making streak last year, my favorite being Jalapeno Cornbread Burgers! Joni from Cozy Inside has a whole book of them!

Lovlie said...

Wow! This is making me hungry! I'm gonna make some burgers today, I have some bagels in the fridge, they'd be perfect! Yum!

Anonymous said...

Oh, those look great! And just in time for grilling season, too. ;)

Cheryl said...

These sound really good! I'd have to leave out or puree the carrots in order to keep the vegetable content undetectable by the small people in my house but will definitely give these a try.

the twins said...

that looks great! thanks for the recipe.

Vaishali said...

That burger looks absolutely delicious. And everything in here is really healthy. Can food get any better?