Veggie Burgers

I have tried various kinds of veggie burgers, Boca Burgers, and Morningstar
Farms (I think). There are 2 basic problems. The first is that they are
way too dry. I don't really expect them to have the same "mouth feel" as
meat, but even so they are still too dry.

Second, the manufacturers are seeming to try to make them taste "like meat."
First, they are not succeeding very well. Second, veggie burgers are a
different product, and I think it is a mistake to make them taste "like
meat."

Home made veggie burgers, however, are a different matter. Several years
ago, I ran across an article that had 3 recipes for veggie burgers. One was
rice based, one was corn based, and the third was bean based (something like
pinto beans, I think).

The one that was best prepared like a regular hamburger was the rice based
one. The best overall was the corn based one, but the way I fixed it was to
put it on a plate, then put some sour cream and salsa on it. I also tried
one of the corn veggie burgers on a bun with ketchup, mayo, and mustard,
like a "regular hamburger."

Currently, I like the following recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_30859,00.html.
Like I said, I don't think it tastes "like meat," but I think it is pretty
good prepared in the same way as a "regular hamburger," and eaten with a
claussen pickle and a nice glass of milk.

I also tried the following recipe:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/4221. I think it is a very
similar recipe to the one I tried from the newspaper. I served it in the
way that is suggested in the article, with salsa and sour cream and rolled
in a tortilla, but next time I think I will just put it on a plate and put
the sour cream and salsa on it, skipping the tortilla entirely.

Brian Christiansen

"Brian Christiansen" <brian_christians@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b_yVj.155$hJ5.41@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
> I have tried various kinds of veggie burgers, Boca Burgers, and
Morningstar
> Farms (I think). There are 2 basic problems. The first is that they are
> way too dry. I don't really expect them to have the same "mouth feel" as
> meat, but even so they are still too dry.
>
> Second, the manufacturers are seeming to try to make them taste "like
meat."
> First, they are not succeeding very well. Second, veggie burgers are a
> different product, and I think it is a mistake to make them taste "like
> meat."
>
> Home made veggie burgers, however, are a different matter. Several years
> ago, I ran across an article that had 3 recipes for veggie burgers. One
was
> rice based, one was corn based, and the third was bean based (something
like
> pinto beans, I think).
>
> The one that was best prepared like a regular hamburger was the rice based
> one. The best overall was the corn based one, but the way I fixed it was
to
> put it on a plate, then put some sour cream and salsa on it. I also tried
> one of the corn veggie burgers on a bun with ketchup, mayo, and mustard,
> like a "regular hamburger."
>
> Currently, I like the following recipe:
> http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_30859,00.html.
> Like I said, I don't think it tastes "like meat," but I think it is pretty
> good prepared in the same way as a "regular hamburger," and eaten with a
> claussen pickle and a nice glass of milk.
>
> I also tried the following recipe:
> http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/4221. I think it is a very
> similar recipe to the one I tried from the newspaper. I served it in the
> way that is suggested in the article, with salsa and sour cream and rolled
> in a tortilla, but next time I think I will just put it on a plate and put
> the sour cream and salsa on it, skipping the tortilla entirely.
>
> Brian Christiansen


Brian,
I am always looking for possibilities for veggie burgers and thanks for the
suggestions. I have tried many concoctions over the years that they called
"burgers" too. They qualify as "pattys", period, at best.

The most satisfying of those called "burgers" were two that were in no way
even constructed as burgers or pattys, but rather were a select assortment
of veggies and seasonings cooked and placed on hamburger buns. Unforunately,
one of these was unpopular enough at the La Place Rendezvous in Fort Frances
ON that they replaced it with a "Boca" type piece of crap, with a
consistency more like the hockey pucks on their giant-screen TVs, with
apologees to the game of Hockey for the unfair comparison. The other one, at
Grandma's, Virginia, MN is an Asian-type version, a collection of veggies
with a teriaki flavor, on bun, and served with fresh fruit on the side -- a
light, tasty one I only get to lunch on when I drive the hundred miles for
something necessary. Objectively they are Veggie Sandwiches called
"burgers",

To me, carmelized fat makes a true burger what it is. My preferences are
charcoal-type grilled with slices of raw onion, tomato and lettuce with
mayo, or pan fried in a cast-iron skillet so there are lots of carmelized
bits in the pan left, then frying the onions in that and deglazing it with
ketchup that is used as sauce for the burger on the bun -- both go great
with a melted slice of good cheese too, but optional.

I agree that some of the burger recipes are called that because they choose
to serve them on bread (I wouldn't call things rolled in tortillas "burgers"
at all) and would be better served as simply an entree with all the sour
creams, salsas, etc.

I wil give your recipes a shot this week. Thanks

Buddy

"Buddy" <buddytoons@NOSPAMcs.com> wrote in message
news:NGEVj.683$PE5.262@fe087.usenetserver.com..

> Brian,
> I am always looking for possibilities for veggie burgers and thanks for
> the
> suggestions. I have tried many concoctions over the years that they called
> "burgers" too. They qualify as "pattys", period, at best.
>
> The most satisfying of those called "burgers" were two that were in no way
> even constructed as burgers or pattys, but rather were a select assortment
> of veggies and seasonings cooked and placed on hamburger buns.
> Unforunately,
> one of these was unpopular enough at the La Place Rendezvous in Fort
> Frances
> ON that they replaced it with a "Boca" type piece of crap, with a
> consistency more like the hockey pucks on their giant-screen TVs, with
> apologees to the game of Hockey for the unfair comparison. The other one,
> at
> Grandma's, Virginia, MN is an Asian-type version, a collection of veggies
> with a teriaki flavor, on bun, and served with fresh fruit on the side --
> a
> light, tasty one I only get to lunch on when I drive the hundred miles for
> something necessary. Objectively they are Veggie Sandwiches called
> "burgers",
>
> To me, carmelized fat makes a true burger what it is. My preferences are
> charcoal-type grilled with slices of raw onion, tomato and lettuce with
> mayo, or pan fried in a cast-iron skillet so there are lots of carmelized
> bits in the pan left, then frying the onions in that and deglazing it with
> ketchup that is used as sauce for the burger on the bun -- both go great
> with a melted slice of good cheese too, but optional.
>
> I agree that some of the burger recipes are called that because they
> choose
> to serve them on bread (I wouldn't call things rolled in tortillas
> "burgers"
> at all) and would be better served as simply an entree with all the sour
> creams, salsas, etc.
>
> I wil give your recipes a shot this week. Thanks
>
> Buddy
>
>

I can't say for sure, but I think that whoever "invented" the first veggie
burger wasn't going for something that tasted "like meat", but rather
something that was the correct size and shape to put on what was available,
either bread or a standard hamburger bun.

Also a warning, though the "corn burger" is really good, I think it falls
apart way too easily to be cooked on a standard grill, and I cooked it in a
regular frying pan. Or I suppose you could cook it in a regular oven,
though unless you have a toaster oven or something small like that, cooking
it in a regular oven might be a bit wasteful.

I am not certain if the same caveat applies to the "split-pea burger" as I
have never tried cooking it on a grill. If you cook it in a toaster oven or
something like that, the bread crumbs on the outside do not brown up as much
as if it is cooked in a frying pan, though they still tate pretty good.

Hmm..deglazing a pan with ketchup is something I never thought of, I would
have thought ketchup is too thick, perhaps I will try that sometime.

Brian

>
> Hmm..deglazing a pan with ketchup is something I never thought of, I would
> have thought ketchup is too thick, perhaps I will try that sometime.
>
> Brian

Well by the time you fry the meat then fry the onions in enough grease and
leftover carmelized bits, there is enough juice remaining to make a nice
sauce using a good shot of ketchup as you don't have to cook it very long in
a hot pan and stirring-- with a cast-iron you'd want to take it off the
heat. I learned this while camping -- if you like ketchup on a burger this
is the way to go. A dash of Wourcester Sauce in there is tasty too and will
thin it a bit if you need it.

Buddy

Brian wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 02:27:35 -0700:

> I have tried various kinds of veggie burgers, Boca Burgers,
> and Morningstar Farms (I think). There are 2 basic problems.
> The first is that they are way too dry.Second, the
> manufacturers are seeming to try to make them taste "like
> meat." First, they are not succeeding very well.

> Second, veggie burgers are a different product, and I think it
> is a mistake to make them taste "like meat."

I agree they are a bit dry but I quite like the two you
mentioned. They are improved by a spoonful or two of salsa.



--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Brian wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 02:27:35 -0700:

> I have tried various kinds of veggie burgers, Boca Burgers,
> and Morningstar Farms (I think). There are 2 basic problems.
> The first is that they are way too dry.Second, the
> manufacturers are seeming to try to make them taste "like
> meat." First, they are not succeeding very well.

> Second, veggie burgers are a different product, and I think it
> is a mistake to make them taste "like meat."

Just use a slice of tofu instead of a veggie burger then.
Much cheaper, just as much nutrition value, and no way it will
taste like meat.

Steve

On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:37:19 +0000 (UTC), spope33@speedymail.org
(Steve Pope) wrote:

> Brian wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 02:27:35 -0700:

>> Second, veggie burgers are a different product, and I think it
>> is a mistake to make them taste "like meat."
>
>Just use a slice of tofu instead of a veggie burger then.
>Much cheaper, just as much nutrition value, and no way it will
>taste like meat.

A grilled portabella mushroom makes a tasty veggie burger.

Tara

Tara <jarvis57@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:37:19 +0000 (UTC), spope33@speedymail.org

>(Steve Pope) wrote:
>
>> Brian wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 02:27:35 -0700:
>
>>> Second, veggie burgers are a different product, and I think it
>>> is a mistake to make them taste "like meat."
>>
>>Just use a slice of tofu instead of a veggie burger then.
>>Much cheaper, just as much nutrition value, and no way it will
>>taste like meat.
>
>A grilled portabella mushroom makes a tasty veggie burger.

That's a good idea. Kind of low in protein, although
mushroom protein does complement grain protein. (The
combination can be lysine-complete.)

Steve

Steve Pope wrote:
> Tara <jarvis57@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:37:19 +0000 (UTC), spope33@speedymail.org
>
>> (Steve Pope) wrote:
>>
>>> Brian wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 02:27:35 -0700:
>>>> Second, veggie burgers are a different product, and I think it
>>>> is a mistake to make them taste "like meat."
>>> Just use a slice of tofu instead of a veggie burger then.
>>> Much cheaper, just as much nutrition value, and no way it will
>>> taste like meat.
>> A grilled portabella mushroom makes a tasty veggie burger.
>
> That's a good idea. Kind of low in protein, although
> mushroom protein does complement grain protein. (The
> combination can be lysine-complete.)
>
> Steve

Dress the mushroom burger with black bean salsa and some sliced avocado.

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life

Janet Wilder wrote:
> Steve Pope wrote:
>> Tara <jarvis57@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:37:19 +0000 (UTC), spope33@speedymail.org
>>
>>> (Steve Pope) wrote:
>>>
>>>> Brian wrote on Sun, 11 May 2008 02:27:35 -0700:
>>>>> Second, veggie burgers are a different product, and I think it
>>>>> is a mistake to make them taste "like meat."
>>>> Just use a slice of tofu instead of a veggie burger then.
>>>> Much cheaper, just as much nutrition value, and no way it will
>>>> taste like meat.
>>> A grilled portabella mushroom makes a tasty veggie burger.
>>
>> That's a good idea. Kind of low in protein, although
>> mushroom protein does complement grain protein. (The
>> combination can be lysine-complete.)
>>
>> Steve
>
> Dress the mushroom burger with black bean salsa and some sliced
> avocado.

I marinate my portabella mushrooms in garlic and balsamic vinegar for about
2 minutes, grill place it on a crusty roll and add smoked mozzarella,
tomato, basil, and lettuce. No need for any condiments because it's juicy
as is. It makes a fabulous veggie burger.

kili

http://www.amyskitchen.com/products/category_view.php?prod_category=1

Amy's burgers are the best I have had. They beat Bocca burgers hands
down.

pamjd <guppy21014@aol.com> wrote:

>Amy's burgers are the best I have had. They beat Bocca burgers hands
>down.

Have you tried Dr. Praegers?

Steve

Steve wrote on Mon, 12 May 2008 01:41:24 +0000 (UTC):

>> Amy's burgers are the best I have had. They beat Bocca
>> burgers hands down.

> Have you tried Dr. Praegers?

It might interest people that the latest issue of Consumers
Reports has discussed vegi burgers.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton <not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not> wrote:

>It might interest people that the latest issue of Consumers
>Reports has discussed vegi burgers.

But who wants to eat veggie burgers preferred by people who
drive Priuses?

Steve

Steve Pope wrote:
> James Silverton <not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not> wrote:
>
>> It might interest people that the latest issue of Consumers
>> Reports has discussed vegi burgers.
>
> But who wants to eat veggie burgers preferred by people who
> drive Priuses?
>
> Steve

They seem to review a lot of mercedes benz too....