Burgers generally get a bad rap, even the word conjures up images in my mind of all too sloppy and super unhealthy fast food or even the disguising fall apart versions offered up by legendary 90s Comedy duo Kenan and Kel in the movie Good Burger, but it doesn’t have to be like that.

The following is a hopefully simple, step-by-step guide to building the best, perfectly healthy, meat free burger, as an alternative to the obvious or as a stable of a meat free lifestyle.

Ahh here it goes!

Step 1 – Roast the veggies

Choose 1 or 2 from below:
Sweet potato, butternut squash, potato

Choose 1 or 2 from below:
(some will go better together than others; check my spice guide for further info)
Curry powder, sweet paprika, Cajun, chilli powder, cumin, turmeric

Choose all from below:
Onions, garlic, fresh chilli, peppers (red probably best)

Chop each of the veg above into small cubes; add the spice and roast together in the oven until they are soft through.

Step 2 – Add the beans

Choose 1 or 2 from below:
Kidney beans, butter beans, black beans, chic peas, etc, maybe even sweet corn

Add to a large mixing bowl with some fresh spinach finely chopped.

Step 3 – Mix the fork out of it

Add the roasted veggies to the large mixing bowl and mash all the ingredients together with a fork. Then add some salt and pepper to the mixture and use your hands to bind the mixture together before rolling burger shapes in your palm.

Step 4 – Coat the burgers

Choose 1 from below:
Desiccated coconut, linseed, crushed nuts, crushed seeds, millet, quinoa, couscous

Place any of the above in a large bowl and roll the burger shape in it to create a crunchy order coating.

Step 5 – Cook the burger

Pop the burgers in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes so that they bind and cook through, place in your favourite bun and enjoy with some homemade hummus on top.

Simple!

Using the combinations above is an excellent way to start your journey toward building the perfect meat free burger. As with many of my recipes, I have left the exact amounts required out of the process, as it really is trial and error based on the vegetables used. So don’t be afraid of failure and rest assured when you get that perfect combo it will be super easy to replicate it, time and time again and erase the images of Kenan and Kel forever ......... ahhhhhh here it goes!