Veggie burger

Whilst commercial brands of veggie burger are widespread, hundreds of recipes exist for veggie burgers online and in cookbooks, aimed at the home cook and based on cereal grains, nuts, seeds, breadcrumbs, beans, textured soya protein, with starchy flours or flaxseed meal to stabilize the mix. Recipes offer a variety of flavors and textures, often containing herbs and spices and ingredients, like tamari or nutritional yeast, to increase the umami taste. Desirable characteristics include mouthfeel, a seared surface, crunch, chewiness, spiciness and resistance to crumbling.

Like a meat burger, they can be pan fried, grilled, barbecued or oven cooked. Some are designed to be eaten in a toasted bun or brioche, with similar accompaniments to a traditional meat burger, such as tomato slices, onion rings, dill pickled cucumber, mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup. Others are stand-alone patties that are eaten with other vegetables, salad or a dipping sauce. Home produced veggie burgers can be frozen and stored, just like commercial varieties.

Products include dried mixes to which water is added before cooking, or ready-made burgers, often found in the store chiller or freezer compartments. Some popular brands of veggie burger include the Boca Burger, the Gardenburger, Morningstar Farms, and Quorn. In the 2010s, realistic meat-like burgers were developed, led by the companies Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods.{{Cite web |last=Torrella |first=Kenny |date=2023-04-17 |title=Were the Impossible and Beyond burgers a fad, or is plant-based meat here to stay? |url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/4/17/23682232/impossible-beyond-plant-based-meat-sales |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=Vox |language=en}}

There have been numerous claims of invention of the veggie burger. The dish, by name, may have been created in London in 1982 by Gregory Sams, who called it the 'VegeBurger'. Sams and his brother Craig had run a natural food restaurant in Paddington since the 1960s;{{cite web | url = https://www.gregorysams.com/chaosworks/vegeburger-story-overview | title = The Vegeburger Story | access-date = 2023-09-06 | publisher=www.gregorysams.com}} a Carrefour hypermarket in Southampton sold 2000 packets in three weeks after its launch.{{cite web | url = http://www.chaos-works.com/vegeburger4.html | title = And Here Comes the VegeBurger | access-date = 2006-11-11 |work=The Observer |location=UK}} An earlier reference can be heard in the 7 June 1948 episode of the American radio drama series Let George Do It called "The Mister Mirch Case" where a character refers to "vegeburgers" as a burger made of nuts and legumes.

Food writer Pen Vogler considers a recipe for "benes yfryed" in the 14th century recipe book The Forme of Cury to be similar to a modern broad bean burger:{{Cite book |last=Vogler |first=Pen |title=Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain |publisher=Atlantic Books |year=2023 |isbn=9781838955762 |pages=21 |quote=I recently saw a recipe for a broad bean burger and realized it was almost identical to 'benes yfryed' in The Forme of Cury: beans, seethed almost until they burst, mixed with oil, fried onion and garlic, and flavoured with 'powdour douce' - sweet spice.}} "Take benes and seeþ hem almost til þey bersten. take and wryng out þer water clene. do þerto Oynouns ysode and ymynced. and garlec þerwith. frye hem in oile. oþer in grece. & do þerto powdour douce. & serue it forth."{{Cite web |title=The Forme of Cury |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8102/pg8102-images.html |date=1390 |access-date=20 March 2025}}

Using the name Gardenburger, an early veggie burger was developed by Paul Wenner around 1980 or 1981 in Wenner's vegetarian restaurant, The Gardenhouse, in Gresham, Oregon.{{cite web | url=http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/wenner.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041211092624/http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/wenner.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 December 2004 | title=Inventor of the Week – Paul Wenner | publisher=MIT | access-date=27 July 2012}}

Some fast food companies have been offering vegetarian foods increasingly since the beginning of the 21st century.

In India where vegetarianism is widespread, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and KFC serve veggie burgers.{{cite web |last=Fernandes |first=Mabel |date=27 July 1999 |title=Rediff on the NeT: Meatless Burgers Gain Popularity Across America |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jul/27us1.htm |website=www.rediff.com}}[http://www.indiantelevision.com/mam/headlines/y2k6/apr/aprmam62.htm McDonald's new TVC pushes McChicken, McVeggie products]Indiantelevision.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818202952/http://www.indiantelevision.com/mam/headlines/y2k6/apr/aprmam62.htm |date=18 August 2017 }}{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2014/10/30/burger-king-brings-beef-free-whoppers-to-india-2/|title=Burger King Brings Beef-Free Whoppers to India|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=6 November 2014 |date=30 October 2014}} In 2012, McDonald's opened its first vegetarian-only restaurant in India.{{cite news |date=4 September 2012 |title=McDonald's opens vegetarian-only restaurant |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-19479013 |agency=BBC News}} A popular type of burger is the Vada pav, also known as the Bombay burger. It originated in or near the city of Mumbai and consists of a fritter (vada), cooked with potatoes mixed with green chilis and various spices, enclosed in a bread roll (pav).{{cite web |last=The Food Agenda |date=25 August 2022 |title=Unique burgers from around the world |url=https://erudus.com/editorial/the-food-agenda/unique-burgers-from-around-the-world |website=Erudus}}

Burger King (BK) introduced a veggie burger in 2002, the [https://money.cnn.com/2002/03/14/news/companies/burgerking_veggie/ first] to be made available nationally in the U.S.{{cite news |last1=Zunitch |first1=Victoria |title=Burger King serves up veggie burger |url=https://money.cnn.com/2002/03/14/news/companies/burgerking_veggie |access-date=3 February 2023 |work=CNN Money |date=14 March 2002}} They have also sold veggie burgers in their Australian franchise, Hungry Jack's.{{cite web

|last = Hungry Jack's

|author-link = Hungry Jack's

|title = Veggie Burger

|url = http://www.hungryjacks.com.au/menu_veggie%20burger

|access-date = 7 May 2009

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090505173913/http://www.hungryjacks.com.au/menu_veggie%20burger

|archive-date = 5 May 2009}} In 2019, BK rolled out the Impossible Whopper as a veggie burger that realistically imitates their signature beef-based Whopper hamburger.

Veggie burgers have been sold in certain Subways and Harvey's, as well as many chain restaurants, such as Red Robin, Chili's, Denny's, Friendly's, Culvers, Johnny Rockets, and Hard Rock Cafe. Occasionally the veggie burger option will appear at the bottom of a menu as a possible substitution for beef or turkey burgers, rather than as an individual menu item.

File:McVeggie in India 1.jpg

{{anchor|McDonald's}}Different kinds of veggie burgers, including the vegetarian McVeggie, the vegan McVegan, and the McPlant, are also served permanently in McDonald's restaurants in:

• India (McVeggie, consisting of a fried, breaded patty of ground vegetables, with lettuce and ketchup, in a wholewheat, sesame or focaccia bun)
• Bahrain{{cite web|url=http://www.tikifish.com/mcdonalds.html |title=The Love Burger, Seaweed Fries, and Other Curiosities |publisher=Tikifish.com |access-date=20 November 2011}}
• Cheung Chau, Hong Kong (McVeggie, in Cheung Chau Bun Festival)
• Egypt (McFalafel, consisting of a falafel patty with tomato, lettuce and tahini sauce){{cite web |url=http://mideastfood.about.com/od/glossary/g/mcfalafel.htm |title=About.com Middle Eastern Food: McFalafel |publisher=Mideastfood.about.com |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=20 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116143024/http://mideastfood.about.com/od/glossary/g/mcfalafel.htm |archive-date=16 January 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/children.htm |title=McDonald Introduces McFalafel, Just for Egypt |publisher=Touregypt.net |access-date=20 November 2011}}
• Finland (McVegan){{Cite web|url=https://www.mcdonalds.fi/fi/product/mcvegan.html|title=McVegan|last=Suomi|first=McDonald's|website=www.mcdonalds.fi|access-date=2019-03-17}}
• Germany since February 2010, McDonald's Germany, its fourth-biggest global market, is serving veggie burgers in all its restaurants.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idAFLDE6181K220100209?rpc=44 |title=Veggie burger, coffee to fuel McDonald's in Germany |work=Reuters |access-date=20 November 2011 |date=9 February 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mcdonalds.de/produkte/veggieburger.html |title=McDonald's veggie burger page at the German McDonald's homepage |publisher=Mcdonalds.de |access-date=20 November 2011}}
• Greece (McVeggie, consisting of a breaded and fried vegetable patty with tomato, iceberg lettuce and ketchup, in a sesame bun){{cite web|url=http://www.mcdonalds.gr/mcveggie-burger/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405071031/http://www.mcdonalds.gr/mcveggie-burger/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 April 2010|title=McVeggie burger - McDonalds|date=5 April 2010}}
• Malaysia{{cite web|url=http://www.hot-screensaver.com/2006/04/19/mcdonalds-malaysia-drive-thru-challenge/|title=McDonald's Malaysia Drive-Thru Challenge - Hot-screensaver|date=21 August 2008|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821132303/http://www.hot-screensaver.com/2006/04/19/mcdonalds-malaysia-drive-thru-challenge/|archive-date=21 August 2008}}
• The Netherlands (Groentenburger=Vegetable Burger){{cite web |url=http://www.mcdonalds.nl/wps/wcm/connect/mcd/mcdonalds/Home/Producten/Producten/Burgers+en+Nuggets/Groenteburger |title=McDonald's Netherlands: Groenteburger (Vegetable Burger) |publisher=Mcdonalds.nl |access-date=20 November 2011 |archive-date=26 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126090707/http://www.mcdonalds.nl/producten/burgers-mcnuggets/groenteburger |url-status=dead }}
• Portugal (McVeggie, since November 2016){{cite web |url=https://www.mcdonalds.pt/campanhas/mcveggie/ |title=McDonald's Portugal: McVeggie |publisher=Mcdonalds.pt |access-date=8 May 2017 |archive-date=15 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124727/https://www.mcdonalds.pt/campanhas/mcveggie/ |url-status=dead }}
• New Zealand (McVeggie, since December 2019){{cite web |last1=Woodyatt |first1=Amy |title=In New Zealand, McDonald's new McVeggie burger is not strictly vegetarian |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/06/business/mcveggie-mcdonalds-intl-scli/index.html |website=cnn.com |date=6 December 2019 |publisher=CNN |access-date=27 December 2019}}
• Sweden (McVegan){{Cite web|url=https://www.mcdonalds.com/se/sv-se/product/mcvegan.html|title=McVegan|website=www.mcdonalds.com|access-date=2019-03-17}}
• Switzerland (Vegi Mac){{cite web|url=http://nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com/2009/07/mcdonalds-food-from-around-mcworld.html|title=McDonalds Food from Around the McWorld|date=22 July 2009|publisher=Nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com|access-date=20 November 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mcdonalds.ch/de/produkte/vegi-mac--22-709-1630.htm |title=McDonald's Switzerland: Vegi Mac |publisher=Mcdonalds.ch |access-date=20 November 2011}}
• United Arab Emirates{{cite web|url=http://caloriecount.about.com/mcdonalds-veggie-burger-calories-ft122251|title=mcdonalds veggie burger calories?|date=5 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205073929/http://caloriecount.about.com/mcdonalds-veggie-burger-calories-ft122251|archive-date=5 December 2008}}
• United Kingdom (McPlant){{cite web |title=The Vegan Burger with Beyond Meat |url=https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/latest-updates/mcplant.html |website=www.mcdonalds.com |access-date=9 June 2023}}

Manufacturing often follows certain steps. One commercial recipe runs as follows.{{Citation|last=How It’s Made|title=How It's Made Veggie Burgers|date=2015-05-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FrhFGXi664|access-date=2017-08-03}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Vegetarian-Burger.html|title=How vegetarian burger is made - making, processing, product, industry, machine, Raw Materials|website=www.madehow.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-03}}

The grains and vegetables used in the patties are first washed and thoroughly cleaned to help ensure the removal of dirt, bacteria, chemical residues, and other materials that may be on the raw products. This process can either be done by hand or through the use of machinery such as high-pressure sprayers. With the use of a conveyor belt, the food is moved along under a high-pressure sprayer to remove the debris listed above. Another method that may be used by companies is the use of a hollow drum which circulates the food while water is sprayed onto it to remove the debris.

File:Rice Grains .png

Next, a steam-heated mixer is used to cook the grain and remove any extra debris and excess water. The mixer typically has oils within it (such as safflower oil). As the oil simmers, the grains are gradually added in and the blades are used to mix the grains around. The steam created in the mixer allows the grains to cook resulting in a puree.

Next the vegetables are cut up into smaller pieces to allow more surface area for cooking purposes. This can be done by hand or through the use of machines in factories.

The vegetables are then added to the grain mixture in the steam-heated mixture. The exact ratio of grains to vegetables is unique to each company, resulting in different textures and tastes that are produced.

As the vegetables are being cooked in the mixer, their natural sugars release, resulting in caramelization. The sweet flavors thus created from this caramelization are mixed uniformly in the mixer. The technique used for the creation of this caramelization mixture is called mirepoix. This technique is very important to the production of veggie burgers, as it adds both texture and flavor to the patty.

File:Dry ingredients .jpg

The mirepoix mixture is then placed into another mixing tub, where dry ingredients such as oats, walnuts, potato flakes, and more are added. The mixture is then folded together to make a uniform mix. The moisture from the vegetables causes the mixture to become sticky, thus clumping together like cookie dough. This is important, as it allows the veggie burger to stick together to form the patty.

The mixture is now put into an automatic patty-making machine or press. The press then punches out the patties into a disc shape onto a conveyor belt underneath. A constant spray of water may also be used to prevent any of the mixture from sticking to machinery parts. Once on the conveyor tray, the patties move along to be put onto baking trays.

Patties are first inspected to make sure they are the correct shape, size, and texture to ensure a high-quality product. The trays are then put into a heated convection oven at a designated temperature and time.

Once out of the oven, the patties are quickly frozen with techniques such as individual quick freezing and cryogenic freezing.{{Cite journal|last1=Gibbs|first1=W. Wayt|last2=Myhrvold|first2=Nathan|title=Cryogenic Cooking|journal=Scientific American|language=en|volume=305|issue=2|pages=31|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0811-31|pmid=21827120|year=2011|bibcode=2011SciAm.305a..31G}} These quick-freezing methods freeze the patties within 30 minutes to lock in nutrients and preserve texture by the formation of a number of small ice crystals.

The frozen patties are again placed on a conveyor belt that takes them to a vacuum-packaging machine. The machine seals the patties into measured plastic sleeves and draws out any excess air. The packages are then loaded into printed cardboard boxes with the aid of another machine or done manually. The flaps on the box are then sealed closed and the product is kept in temperature-controlled storage before, during, and after delivery to grocery stores.

Grains are primarily used in the manufacturing of veggie burgers to act as a meat substitute. The grains, such as rice and wheat, provide carbohydrates and protein components and to provide bulk to the patty. They also provide texture to the burger, which can change depending on the type of grain used. This texture and look is important as they wish to make the patty look like a beef patty.

File:Mushroom, Veggie Burger.jpg

Vegetables, such as corn, carrots, and mushrooms, provide texture and taste. Additionally, they provide moisture when heated.{{Cite news|url=https://gourmandelle.com/veggie-burger-guide-how-to-perfect-veggie-patties/|title=The Ultimate Veggie Burger Guide {{!}} Perfect veggie patties {{!}} Gourmandelle|date=2014-08-25|work=Gourmandelle {{!}} Vegetarian Blog|access-date=2017-08-03|language=en-US}} This allows the disc shape without breaking apart easily. The vegetables also provide nutrients with the addition of some vitamins and minerals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/mirepoix-this-simple-veggie-trio-will-change-the-way-you-cook/|title=Mirepoix: This Simple Veggie Trio Will Change the Way You Cook Forever! {{!}} One Green Planet|website=www.onegreenplanet.org|date=12 March 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-03}}

Adding dry ingredients, such as oats, flours, nuts, or breadcrumbs, can absorb excess moisture and liquid, which results in the patty sticking together tightly. This could turn the moist veggie patties into a sticky consistency, which also helps the patties shape easily. Dry ingredients provide proteins and fiber, which add nutritional value to the veggie patty. Dry ingredients, such as walnuts and almonds, are also rich in energy, vitamins and minerals.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/nuts_nutrition.html|title=Nuts nutrition facts and the health benefits of nuts|work=Nutrition And You.com|access-date=2017-08-03|language=en}}

Tapioca starch and vegetable gum are two common ingredients used as stabilizers in veggie burger. Tapioca starch is often used as a thickening agent due to its cheaper price. It gets sticky once it is wet, which helps to hold the burger patty tightly together.{{Cite web|url=http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/tricks-for-making-veggie-burgers-that-wont-fall-apart/|title=Tricks for Making Veggie Burgers That Won't Fall Apart {{!}} One Green Planet|website=www.onegreenplanet.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-03}} Vegetable gum also helps to hold everything together in the patty.{{Cite web|url=http://www.care2.com/greenliving/whats-inside-your-veggie-burger.html|title=What's Inside Your Veggie Burger? {{!}} Care2 Healthy Living|website=www.care2.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-03}}

Oils, such as safflower, coconut, and olive oil, can lubricate the grain mix, and allow further cooking processing when the wheat is added. This facilitates the Maillard reaction and brings out the flavors of the veggie burger. Oils can also prevent the ingredients from sticking to the mixing machine, thus allowing them to be mixed well and heated together.{{Cite book|title=Lipid Oxidation in Food|last1=Bailey|first1=Milton E.|last2=Um|first2=Ki Won|date=1992-08-05|publisher=American Chemical Society|isbn=978-0841224612|series=ACS Symposium Series|volume=500|pages=122–139|doi=10.1021/bk-1992-0500.ch008}}

Salt is typically used for flavor, and may also be used as a preservative in veggie burgers. With the use of salt, the water activity of the food is reduced. This helps prevent the growth of micro-organisms and prolongs the shelf life of the food.{{Cite web|url=http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/how-to-choose-a-healthy-veggie-burger-without-harmful-ingredients/|title=How to Choose a Healthy Veggie Burger Without Harmful Ingredients {{!}} One Green Planet|website=www.onegreenplanet.org|date=13 March 2015|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-08}}

In October 2020, the EU rejected an amendment proposed by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development which, if passed, would have resulted in companies being forced to call veggie burgers by the term "veggie discs".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/veggie-burgers-eu-vote-european-parliament-meps-vegetarian-food-b1252734.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220811/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/veggie-burgers-eu-vote-european-parliament-meps-vegetarian-food-b1252734.html |archive-date=11 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|author=Sabrina Barr|title=EU rejects plan to rename veggie burgers 'veggie discs'|date=23 October 2020}}

File:Veggie burger burger king flickr user moe creative commons.jpg|A Burger King Veggie combo meal, including a veggie burger, from Germany

Vegan burger and chips (3883204113).jpg|Vegan burger and French fries

File:Priest Station 2.jpg|Vegan burger

File:Beyond Meat.jpg|A Beyond Meat vegan burger

File:VeggieBurgerKopfeckMunich.jpg|Order from a vegetarian deli: veggie burger with French fries and salad

File:Veggie burger made from chickpeas oats rye flour carrot onion garlic spices an egg to bind ingredients.jpg|Mostly-veggie burger with the addition of one egg to better bind ingredients together

{{portal|Food}}

{{div col}}

• {{annotated link|Beyond Meat}}
• {{annotated link|BK Veggie}}
• {{annotated link|Boca Burger}}
• {{annotated link|Coconut burger}}
• {{annotated link|Gardenburger}}
• {{annotated link|Impossible Burger}}
• {{annotated link|List of hamburgers}}
• {{annotated link|List of meat substitutes}}
• {{annotated link|List of sandwiches}}
• {{annotated link|List of vegetable dishes}}
• {{annotated link|Meat analog}}
• {{annotated link|Morningstar Farms}}
• {{annotated link|Quorn}}
• {{annotated link|Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company}}
• {{annotated link|Okara (food)|Soy pulp}}
• {{annotated link|Vada pav}}
• {{annotated link|Veganism}}
• {{annotated link|Vegetarian cuisine}}
• {{annotated link|Vegetarianism}}

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | author=Volger, Lukas | title=Veggie Burgers Every Which Day: Fresh, Flavorful and Healthy Vegan and Vegetarian Burgers - Plus Toppings, Sides, Buns and More | publisher=The Experiment | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-61519-019-5}}

{{Cookbook|Vegan cuisine}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.thespruceeats.com/vegetarian-vegan-4162338 Veggie Burger Recipes]

{{Soy|state=collapsed}}

{{Burgers}}

{{Vegetarianism|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Veggie Burger}}

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