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In a quest to find meals that are healthy and the kids eat readily, I'm trying to up my game on vegetable burgers. I'm after your home made recipes that I can get the kids involved in.... The 2yo will peel and grate for ages and all love making the patties! The eating is not so good currently.
I tend to use lots of different root veg, add a limited amount of a green veg, then cous cous and flour plus mixed herbs and Oxo or marmite, Worcester sauce and possibly ketchup.
The patties get roasted. The result is something that my wife and I like and the kids eat a bit but are so so with. Are there any killer ingredients to give it a more meat like texture? My efforts tend to have a similar consistency to.... err...a roast potato. Also any ingredients or seasoning to make it taste more like meat without upping the salt loads?
Any tips greatly welcome, but remember this is and effort to get the kids eating veg healthily and without a fight! Ta.
Tinned mixed beans mashed with breadcrumbs and feta as a base was always a favourite with my kids, add parsley and chives or chilli and coriander depending on their spice tolerance. We would add sweet peppers, tomatoes and anything else in the fridge.
This is my go-to:
https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-grillable-veggie-burgers/
... only I swap the black beans for kidney beans.
I tend to use gram (chickpea) flour, mixed with a little water to make a thick batter, as a binder. Basically making a vegetable bhaji, heavy on the veg. Wouldn't say it's a meat-like texture though.
Vital wheat gluten, made into "steaks" is the closest I've come to recreating the texture of meat at home (i.e. without buying pre-made meat substitute) so you could try using that instead of flour? You to be careful not to overwork it when making steak otherwise it becomes really rubbery because it's just the gluten from flour with all the over stuff removed... but a small amount stirred into a burger mix might give it a bit more texture.
Flavour-wise, I think you're on the right lines with Marmite and Worcester sauce - it's the umami you want. Miso is another good one for that.
Bit of smoked paprika might not go amiss too. You can also buy "smoke essence" to give a smoky flavour without the spice, if that would improve things.
This is my go-to
They look well good.
Going to make those thanks.
Also the beyond meat burgers are just fantastic I recommend them.
AHH yes, I forgot I have done beans before bit never with feta, thanks, one to try!
Chick peas, I thought about trying those... Gonna end up like a falafel but that's not a bad thing 😂
Smoked paprika good call, I love that in my lentil chili.
Miso, ta, I'll try that.
I wondered if anchovy paste might be worth a go? For tidy omami zing
Thanks cougs
I wondered if anchovy paste might be worth a go? For tidy omami zing
Maybe, but then it wouldn't be veggie innit.
Unless, being vegetarian isn't the requirement.
True, and no it's not an essential. It's about reducing meat to reduce carbon, getting more veg into the kids without complaint, and saving a few pennies too, it's not a problem for me/us to use a meat/animal product.
https://amzn.eu/d/h9kXZs O"> http://Deal: Veggie Burger Atelier: Extraordinary Recipes for Nourishing Plant-Based Patties, Plus Buns, Condiments, and Sweets https://amzn.eu/d/h9kXZsO
This book is great, the burgers are all good and the condiments excellent. I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 30 years and it’s once of the best veggie burger recipe books I’ve found.
These are nice but not sure they really tick the healthy box or whether they're really 2 year old friendly.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/bombay_patty_burgers_12692
So effectively not what you asked for really but still quite tasty veggie burgers
So effectively not what you asked for really
Surely that’s the Singletrack way?
Panto bread crumbs/mashed crunchy bits of cracker type stuff seems to be a common ingredient in these recipes and something I've missed, as does nuts. Definitely will be giving these a try.
Panto bread crumbs/mashed crunchy bits of cracker type stuff seems to be a common ingredient in these recipes
Oh no it isn't!
Oh no it isn’t!
Cinders will do the washing up afterwards.
😂😂 oops! Pan K o.