Smoky black bean and sweet potato vegan burger recipe | Sainsbury`s Magazine (2024)

FAQs

What binds a vegan burger 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.

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.) Keep the patty size reasonable. If you make the veggie burgers too large, they are more likely to fall apart.

To replicate 1 large egg, mix 1 tablespoon flaxseed with 2 to 3 tablespoons water and let sit for a few minutes. Add to the veggie burger mix just as you would an egg.

Common binding agents include flax eggs (a mixture of ground flaxseed and water), chia seeds, mashed potatoes, tapioca flour, or even your favorite nut butter. These ingredients help hold everything together and prevent your burger from crumbling.

Use Silken Tofu, a Flax Egg, or Aquafaba as a Vegan Binder.

It is nice and thick, firms up similarly to how an egg cooks, and it's almost impossible for anything to fall apart when using it. It does need to be blended with water first; not a big deal, just a little less convenient.

The flour which you add will help to bind the burger together and dry it out. Some people will also add tapioca starch or cornflour which thicken when cooked, and again these will help bind the burger and give it some texture.

If you want to use a binder in your meat, but don't want to use egg, other alternatives are flour such as wheat flour, cracker crumbs, or even oatmeal. Don't bind burgers with anything. At least 80/20 ground chuck, form the patties, season with salt and pepper and cook. Done.

But through my Made by Lukas veggie burger business, I spent many, many hours cooking off free veggie burger samples for shoppers in frigid dairy departments of grocery stores, where I learned that one way to solve for mushy veggie burgers is to just cook them bit longer, and slower, on sightly lower heat, and to even ...

If you're tired of ending up with a crumbly mess on your plate, then you might need to rethink how you keep your veggie burgers intact. Before hitting the grill or pan, one major tip is to use a binding agent with your burger, such as egg or breadcrumbs, to help hold the patty together.

If you're looking for an egg replacer that binds, try adding 2 to 3 Tbsp. of any of the following for each egg: tomato paste, potato starch, arrowroot powder, whole wheat flour, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, instant potato flakes, or 1/4 cup tofu puréed with 1 tablespoon flour.

What can I substitute for black beans in a veggie burger? ›

Canned black beans are just fine, or you can substitute them for another kind of bean, such as kidney, chickpea, or pinto beans. Cashews – Ground cashews give the burgers a nice texture along with a tasty nutty flavor. Almonds work well as a substitute.

Beans, for instance, are a good source of both zinc and iron. They are also an important protein resource. Black bean burgers are never going to be mistaken for hamburgers, but they are typically a solid choice when it comes to health.

New study shows swapping beef for a black bean burger could mean better health as you age. Data showed those who ate more plant protein were 46% less likely to develop eleven chronic illnesses as they aged.

Common binders used in plant-based meat include soy protein isolate, methylcellulose, carrageenan, and modified starches. Overall, these binders improve the thickening, gelation, and textural properties of end products. Methylcellulose is an especially common binder.

Combine a tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water, stir to combine, and let stand for 5 minutes to thicken. Ground flaxseed emulates eggs' binding qualities in breads, cakes, muffins, cookies, burgers, and vegan meatballs.

Ground flax seeds

This is made by combining ground (not whole) flax seeds with water and leaving to sit for 15 minutes until the mixture becomes thick, almost the same consistency as a regular egg. The binding properties of flax seeds make this a great addition to cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.

No, eggs are not necessary for binding burger patties, though they are commonly used for binding them. However, you can use other binding agents such as breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, potato starch, flour, and porridge oats to bind burger patties according to your preferences.