The Best Recipes for Vegan Burgers: Your Complete Guide

Recipes for vegan burgers incorporate a wide range of ingredients designed to create a chewy, satisfying patty that's packed with flavour. Best of all, the ingredients are usually healthy and nutritious, and growing them has less of a negative impact on the environment than meat-based diets. From chickpea or beet burgers to the perfect patty for grilling, discover how to put together a patty like a pro chef. 

US-born entrepreneur and writer Gregory Sams is widely credited with popularising the veggie burger at his London restaurant, Seed. That was back in 1982, when the restaurant was a favourite of The Beatles' John Lennon. Since then, widespread dedication to healthy, conscious lifestyles resulted in some tweaking to the recipes. More and more people wanted fully plant-based recipes that were adventurous and creative, and vegan burgers took on a life of their own. The next-generation alternatives to meaty burgers break the rules, more than rivalling meat-based versions with tempting colours, flavours and textures.

There are plenty of wonderful vegan burger recipes to try at home. Here are just a few. 

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 small carrot, grated
• ¼ red onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for frying)
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (flax egg)
• 2 tbsp tahini (or other nut/seed butter)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Prepare the flax egg: In a small bowl, mix the ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to thicken.

2. Blend the chickpea mixture: In a food processor, add the chickpeas, oats, grated carrot, red onion, garlic, parsley, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, salt and pepper. Pulse a few times until the mixture holds together but still has some texture (you don't want a completely smooth paste).

3. Add the flax egg: Pour in the flax egg and pulse once or twice to incorporate it into the mixture.

4. Shape the patties: Divide the mixture into four equal parts, shaping them into burger patties with your hands. If the mixture feels too wet, add a little more oats; if it's too dry, add a teaspoon of water or olive oil.

5. Cook the burgers: Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 1 ½ cups grated raw beetroot (about 2 medium beets)
• 1 cup cooked brown rice (or quinoa)
• 1 cup cooked black beans (or 1/2 can, drained and rinsed)
• ½ cup rolled oats (or breadcrumbs)
• ¼ red onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (flax egg)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for frying)
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp dried thyme (optional)
• Salt and pepper

Method:

1. Prepare the flax egg.

2. Mash the beans: In a large bowl, mash the black beans with a potato masher or fork until mostly smooth (it’s okay if there are some whole beans left for texture).

3. Combine ingredients: Add the grated beets, cooked brown rice, rolled oats, red onion, garlic, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, cumin, smoked paprika, thyme (if using), salt and pepper to the mashed beans. Mix well to combine.

4. Add flax egg and oil: Once the flax egg is thickened, stir it into the mixture along with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. If the mixture seems too wet, add more oats; if too dry, add a little water or extra olive oil. The mixture should hold together when pressed.

5. Shape the patties: Divide the mixture into four portions and shape them into burger patties.

6. Cook the burgers: Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Fry the beet patties for 4-5 minutes on each side until they are firm and have a crispy golden crust.

If you're making vegan burgers for grilling, you'll need a recipe that makes for a sturdy patty that won't fall apart. With recipes that use beans for the patties, the beans should be mashed well to ensure they bind together. if you're using tofu, choose a firm tofu and squeeze out as much liquid as possible for making your patties. Whichever recipe you choose, be sure to refrigerate your patties for around 20 minutes before grilling, which will make them firmer. Finally, coat with oil before you put them on the grill to prevent sticking and damage.

A good binding agent is essential to hold your vegan patties together. Flax eggs, a combination of ground flax seeds and water, help to bind patties. Simply mix a tablespoon of ground flax seeds with three tablespoons of water before adding to your patty mixture. The same can be done with chia seeds. The best binders for vegan burgers also include rolled oats, breadcrumbs and sweet potatoes. 

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups cooked black beans (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)
• ½ cup rolled oats
• ½ small red bell pepper, finely diced
• ¼ red onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (flax egg)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for frying)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp chili powder (optional for extra heat)
• ½ tsp ground coriander (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander or parsley (optional)

Method:

1. Prepare the flax egg.

2. Mash the black beans: In a mixing bowl, mash the black beans with a potato masher or fork. Leave a little texture so that the patties are not completely smooth.

3. Add veggies and seasonings: Stir in the rolled oats, diced red bell pepper, chopped red onion, minced garlic, soy sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder (if using), coriander, salt, pepper and fresh herbs (if using).

4. Add flax egg and olive oil: Once the flax egg is ready, stir it into the bean mixture along with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix everything until well combined. If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit more oats. If too dry, add a teaspoon of water or olive oil.

5. Shape the patties: Divide the bean mixture into four equal parts and form them into burger patties with your hands.

6. Cook the burgers: Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Fry the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side, until they are golden and crisp on the outside.

Vegan diets tend to include more whole foods and less processed food, providing an excellent source of fibre, vitamin C, and folate, as well as minerals like magnesium and potassium. Plant-based diets also avoid unhealthy elements of excluded food groups, such as the saturated fat in dairy. The key is to eat a varied diet, sometimes including fortified foods, that provides some nutrients a vegan diet may lack. This includes vitamin B12, iron and calcium.

Nowadays, it's easy to continue a vegan diet while you're on the road, especially when you're travelling around Europe, where hotels and restaurants are highly aware that more and more people have different dietary restrictions and preferences. If you're staying in Paris, bite into a vegan burger at Umami Burger Paris inside Pullman Paris Montparnasse (19 Rue du Commandant René Mouchotte, 75014 Paris). At Vivre inside Sofitel London Heathrow, the Beyond Meat burger will fill you up before your flight.

There are multiple environmental benefits of going vegan, including a reduction in water and carbon footprints compared to diets that include meat. Production of vegan-friendly food tends to come with lower greenhouse gas emissions, and less deforestation is required compared to meat production such as cattle farming. Even "going vegan" for a few days a week while enjoying meat occasionally will have a positive impact on the environment. You'll discover lots of tempting alternatives to meat when you're following a vegan diet.

There are plenty of benefits to a vegan diet, including impressing your friends and family with these recipes for vegan burgers. And if these aren't tempting enough, why not make a sweet burger for dessert? Happy cooking!