How can I add more "chew" to veggie burgers with only vegetables?
I, like many, have been on the search for the perfect veggie burger. And to my mind, there is a difference between "burgers" derived from a combination of legumes, grains, and/or fungus (ex. tofu, tempeh, and seitan) and "burgers" that are recognizably and predominately vegetables. In other words, there are burgers that qualify as vegetarian, and then there are vegetable burgers. It doesn't mean that these other foods can't be part of the mix. But when you rely too heavily on them, it stops feeling like you are showcasing the vegetables.
The problem is the lack of "chew." You know, the satisfying gets-stuck-in-your-teeth-like-grizzle experience that's hard to replicate without meat--and even harder if you bar the usual meat substitutes. And then there is the related problem of veggie burgers always falling apart.
So can it be done? For instance, I've tried incorporating shredded potatoes and carrots into the mix, trying to create a kind of mesh, but no dice.
Best Answer
Vegetables are mostly water. Water isn't chewy, protein is. What has a lot of protein in the vegetable world? Legumes, grains and fungi. Your "usual substitutes".
I feel like the requirements that you have laid out are self defeating.
Instead of not allowing the known chewy foods you should instead figure out how to use them for bulk and still showcase more flavorful vegetables.
I prefer white wheat that has been boiled until it bursts. Lots of texture but the flavor is easily overridden by whatever else is added.
As for a binder- the easiest is an egg if you don't need vegan. Otherwise you can use starch such as flour but you have to be gentle.
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How do you add flavor to a veggie burger?
Slice up some onions and (optional) beets thinly. The onions help to keep the burgers moist and add steam and flavour during cooking. If you don't like onions, try sliced mushrooms. Spices like garlic powder and a good barbecue sauce are also important for that authentic barbecue flavour.How do you make a veggie burger more interesting?
Keep these on hand for your next veggie burger night:How do you bind a veggie burger without eggs?
Adding flour or oats can help the burgers stick together, without using eggs. Mash everything together well. The more pulverized the veggie burger mixture gets, the better the patties will stick together. (But don't puree them, or the final texture will be off.)What binds veggie burgers together?
Eggs are the most common and effective binder, and egg replacers are an excellent alternative for vegan burgers. Other common binders include wheat germ, bread crumbs, oats, and ground flaxseeds. These are dry ingredients, though the recipe's other ingredients often add just enough moisture to make a sufficient binder.Black Bean Burger Recipe Vegan
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Answer 2
This is tricky. The best vegetable patties I have ever made are based on India style recipes (Pakora, Bhajya, Pakoda etc)
Basically shards of vegetables bound with leavened pulse flour and deep fried
Change the spice mix to match the burger (cumin and pepper, no turmeric or aromatics)
Answer 3
My wife and I made these black bean burgers once and they were actually chewy enough that they resembled meat enough that she didn't want them again. (She hasn't eaten meat in over 20 years, so she's easily grossed out by texture like that. I'm a much more recent convert and I thought they were fantastic.)
If you don't want to follow that particular recipe, you could try mixing in the flax seeds and chickpea flour along with sun dried tomatoes. I felt like those were the ingredients that were most responsible for the texture, though I haven't had a chance to experiment with it since that first time.
Answer 4
diced Carrots?
Whenever I make anything vegan, these are the chewiest bits.
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