Veggie Burgers: Don't Be Afraid To Catch Feels

Food often provides a restorative, creative outlet for me, and this morning, amidst a storm cloud of "stuff" mixed in with a busy night ahead and a beautiful sunny day that makes me feel like eating healthy, I am "cooking my feelings today" (#IloveyouRandalPearson andIcookmyfeelstoo).

My goal was not to create something that mimicks a hamburger (because let's face it, you don't eat veggie burgers because they taste like Big Macs!), but to create a patty that holds together, is crispy on the outside, is healthy, and tastes delicious.

I typically bake my veggie burgers in the oven, but tried these in the Actifry.  The result was a nicely-browned, firm patty.

Gather:
1/2 cup TVP
1/2 cup veggie broth
TBSP each soy sauce, olive oil and maple syrup
Large minced onion
5 cloves of garlic grated,
2 cups of Mann's rainbow salad, pulsed course
1 16 oz can black beans drained, dry and pulsed course



1 large egg
A handful each of sharp cheese and green onion
A tsp each, Italian seasoning blend, garlic powder, onion powder and a generous grind of sriracha salt and/or any others seasonings you like
1/4  to 1/2 cup of almond flour, ground oats or leftover cooked grains

Do It:
Saute the onion and garlic in olive oil and add the tvp, broth, soy sauce, maple syrup, and spices, blending until reconstituted; dump into a big mixing bowl.
Pulse the Mann's; toss into the mixing bowl.
Pulse the beans and toss them into the bowl with a handful of sharp cheese, the almond flour, green onion, and egg.
Form the mixture into patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet; chilling/freezing before baking can be helpful to obtain a patty that holds together well.
Brush the patties with oil and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes (flipping half way) or until nicely browned OR for 20 minutes in the Actifry (remove paddle), flipping gently after 15 minutes and cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the desired doneness has been reached.

Pile high with whatever toppings you love -- fresh lettuce, sprouts, tomatoes, red onion caramalized mushrooms or onions, roasted veggies, goat cheese-- whatever!  Serve on traditional hamburger buns, or grilled portobello mushrooms or crumble in a grain bowls with some greens and roasted vegetables.

Dress and plate that burger and "storm cloud be gone!" (or at the very least, a little less stormy) with the delicious and comforting distraction of food cooked with purpose!  Even better if cooked for or shared with someone you love!  For any fellow curious-information-nerds, a brief read here provides abundant inspiration to cook it out in case this recipe did not inspire you to do that already.