Ultimate Sriracha Veggie Burger
To say that I was ecstatic when I found out there was going to be a vegan cookbook dedicated to the heavenly condiment Sriracha would be the understatement of the year. I know that I need to try all 50 recipes, but just in time for those summer cookouts, here’s the first one! If you need to convince a meat-eater that veggie burgers can be drool-worthy, this is the perfect recipe. Anyone who tastes this burger will not be missing anything … except perhaps a few pleasantly burned taste buds.
Ultimate Sriracha Veggie Burger
Adapted from The Veggie-Lover’s Sriracha Cookbook by Randy Clemens
1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. plus 1/4 cup Sriracha
1 3/4 cups cooked black beans or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 Tbsp. ground flaxseeds
3 Tbsp. water
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup diced red onion
8 oz. cremini or button mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 Tbsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
4 sesame seed buns or ciabatta rolls
Arugula leaves, for garnish
1 roasted red bell pepper, cut into long strips
1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced just before serving
- Combine the vegan mayonnaise, cumin, garlic, and 2 tablespoonfuls of the Sriracha in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Spread the black beans in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel or on paper towels. Cover with an additional towel or more paper towels and pat dry.
- In a small bowl, mix the flaxseeds and water and let sit for several minutes, until a gel forms.
- Heat the oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add the mushrooms and sauté until they have given off their moisture and begin to brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
- Transfer to a food processor and add the beans, flaxseed gel, cilantro, garlic, remaining Sriracha, Bragg Liquid Aminos, pepper, and 1 cupful of the bread crumbs. Pulse until just combined, with some chunky bean bits still intact. Form the mixture into 4 patties and let sit while you preheat the grill. If the patties aren’t firm enough to hold their shape, incorporate additional bread crumbs by hand, then form into patties again.
- Lightly oil a grill or grill pan and preheat to medium-high heat. Using a metal spatula, gently transfer the patties onto the grill. Cook until well browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total, gently flipping once about halfway through. Lightly toast the buns during the last minute or two of cooking, if desired.
- To assemble the burger, spread the refrigerated Sriracha-cumin sauce on the top and bottom of each bun. Load each up with a patty, a small handful of arugula, and one-fourth of the red bell pepper and avocado. Serve immediately.
Note: For a gluten-free version of this burger, substitute almond flour for bread crumbs and use gluten-free hamburger buns or wrap your topped burgers in large leaves of iceberg, Boston, or Bibb lettuce.
Makes 4 servings
PETA is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
