How to pick the perfect veggie burger

Summer is grilling season – and that means everywhere you turn, burgers are on the menu.

While this makes mealtime easy for meat-eaters, things aren’t quite as simple for plant-based diners – for two reasons:

1. There’s a common misconception that if it isn’t beef, it isn’t tasty
2. There are a ton of veggie burger options to choose from

Don’t let either of those spoil your dinner. The first point simply isn’t true, and we’re here to help you with the second one. Read on for everything you need to know to pick the perfect veggie burger.

What’s in a veggie burger anyway?

Short answer? Plants.

All jokes aside, veggie burgers may be 100% made from plant ingredients, but their actual content varies greatly.

From popular store-bought vegan burgers that bleed, to the humble homemade patty, we are breaking it all down for you right now!

Anatomy of a perfect veggie burger

We may all have unique tastes but when it comes to enjoying a burger, some criteria are essential. We’re talking texture, flavor, and of course, juiciness!

There are many different ways to achieve the perfect balance of these elements but one thing’s for sure:

It’s all about the base.

Store-bought vs. homemade patties

“What Beyond Meat is doing is bigger than meat alternatives. They are opening the door for inviting consumers to think about food in an entirely different way.” ———————————— Find the full @livekindlyco article regarding our global influence on how plant-based meat is now merchandised in our story!

A post shared by Beyond Meat (@beyondmeat) on Jul 11, 2018 at 2:46pm PDT

The Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger are among the most popular options you can find at your local grocery store.

• The Beyond Burger is made out of pea protein, coconut oil, and various spices
• The Impossible Burger contains wheat and potato protein

In comparison, homemade veggie burgers such as our own Ultimate Veggie Burger and this Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger by Minimalist Baker are packed with unprocessed whole foods.

• The Ultimate Veggie Burger patties are made of chickpeas, wholemeal bread crumbs, carrots, onions, garlic and spices
• The Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger is full of quinoa, black beans, raw pecans, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and spices

The best vegan toppings

No burger is complete without a little zing. Be it, ketchup, mayo, or a good ole’ pickle, skimping on condiments is a no-no in our book!

Here are some of our favorite vegan options to take your veggie burger to the next level:

1.Sir Kensington’s Chipotle Fabanaise

@oneliuschneiderman knows that vegans don't have to feel left out. Our Chipotle Fabanise has all of the smoke and no yolk.

A post shared by Sir Kensington's (@sirkensingtons) on Mar 7, 2018 at 10:19am PST

Made with chickpea brine, this innovative vegan mayo has the perfect kick to titillate your taste buds.

2.Thousand Island Dressing by Follow Your Heart

Veggie burgers have come a long way in recent years! What are your favorite fixings on your #plantbased burgers? We like to keep it simple with our American Slices, our #Vegan Thousand Island Dressing, some #Vegenaise and plenty of grilled onions. @meatlessmay

A post shared by Follow Your Heart (@followyourheart) on May 1, 2018 at 1:00pm PDT

This Thousand Island dressing is as good as the non-vegan classic and pairs amazingly with caramelized onions.

3.Creamy Original Chao Slices by Field Roast

Sweet potato & black bean cheeseburger with Creamy Original Chao Slices! (📷: @emilewiscarroll)

A post shared by Field Roast (@fieldroast) on Mar 6, 2017 at 4:34pm PST

If you’re one of these people who prefers cheeseburgers to ‘boring’ burgers, these vegan cheese slices are a must. Not only are they rich and creamy but they melt perfectly too!

Will you have a veggie burger at your next BBQ? If so, what are your ideal patty and fixings combos? Let us know in the comments!