This lockdown has made most of us crave for meat. But sometimes, going meat-free is not all bad. Especially if your favorite fast-food has some meat-free goodness in it! Yeah people, I am talking about veggie burger!

Burger is mostly everyone’s favorite fast food. Now, that is an undeniable fact. With all the growing burger outlets, we get to try different varieties of it. But, one still remains to be our all-time favorite outlet. Yep, it is McDonalds! So, that is when I thought why not I try the McVeggie Burger. Veggie burger involves pretty simple and pantry-friendly ingredients.

I have always loved burger and most of the other fast foods too for that matter. I still remember the first time my family and me tried out burger. It was years back when I was a school-going kid, when McDonalds opened one of its outlets near our place.

So, there was an ad in the newspaper covering almost a quarter of one side. The burger in the picture was so huge and it was something that none of us have ever tried before. So, we were all equally intrigued and determined to try out atleast one.

And I was very adamant in getting one on that evening itself. So, what my dad thought was, one burger would be enough for our entire family, because the ad in the newspaper had one huge burger which would be enough for may be even ten people. We ended up calling the outlet and placed our order even, and we were all waiting for the delivery.

If you all remember, back then, there were no food delivery apps like today. We had to call the restaurant separately to place any orders without even seeing the menu. So, placing an order of something that we have not even heard of before was quite a difficult challenge and yet we did complete that.

And, I guess we ordered veggie burger only back then also! Already we had taken one risk and we were not ready for another. So, to be safe, veggie burger it was!

So, finally this guy came to deliver our order and we were all expecting something big from the very big bag of his. But, all that we saw was one small burger in the size of our palm. It was so small the he could have easily carried it in his hand. Until the time he handed our order to us, we all thought that it was going to be one huge meal for the night.

So, anyways, my dad was like “what the hell?” He started questioning the poor delivery guy about their ad and how they have cheated us. LOL! That guy probably wouldn’t have even seen the ad! I know it is really funny, when I think about it now. And even now, we laugh the hell out while thinking about this.

Man! What a funny night and also what an experience to try a food for the first time. Though I was a kid myself then, this incident was so funny that it ended up being an unforgettable memory of mine that I tell and laugh about, even today.

Everyone has such a first time encounter with some new food right?! Come one people; share your first time experiences too with me! Am waiting to hear from y’all soon! Anyways, this veggie burger is loaded up with the goodness of vegetables too. Give it a try! Also, while you are here, do checkout my other American dishes and Indo-American snack recipes! Try all these recipes, they are new and fun to do!

Enjoy having veggie burger with your family! It is a kid’s favorite! Stay safe; stay healthy! Happy cooking and eating!

Has meal planning been a little bit difficult during this lockdown? Look through my No Veggies, 21-Day Lockdown Series for ideas on what to cook during this lockdown.

If you have tried any of my recipes, then tag @the_busy_apron and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #thebusyapron. Also tag @TheBusyApron and share it on Twitter with the hashtag #thebusyapron.

Veggie Burger

Abhipriya Raghav

Our most favorite fast-food, loaded with the goodness of vegetables!

4 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 20

Total Time 50

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Ingredients

For the veggie patty

4 medium potatoes, (boiled, peeled and mashed)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped beans
1/4 cup green peas
1/4 cup boiled sweet corn kernels
2 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika powder
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp amchur powder
2 tbsp bread crumbs
1/2 tsp dried parsley
salt, as per taste

To coat and cook the patties

3 tbsp all-purpose flour / maida
2 tbsp corn flour
salt, as required
bread crumbs, to coat the patties
oil, to shallow-fry the patties

For the veggie burger (for one burger)

1 burger bun
1/2 tsp butter, to toast the buns
1 cheese slice
1 lettuce leaf
2 sliced tomatoes
few sliced onions
2-3 tbsp burger mayo

Instructions

To make the veggie patty

Chop the onions, carrots and beans finely and set it aside.
Heat 2 tbsp butter in a kadai on medium flame. When it is hot, ass the chopped onions, carrots and beans and saute well and cook for 2-3 minutes
Add the boiled sweet corn kernels and the green peas and mix well. Cook for 2 more minutes.
Add the boiled and mashed potatoes and mix everything well.
Add all the spice powders and the bread crumbs listed under 'For the veggie patty' to the potato mixture. Mix well and mash the mixture and let it cook until there is no moisture left.
Switch off the stove and let it cool down. Now, roll the patty mixture into a log using a cling wrap or aluminium foil.
Secure both ends and place it in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix 3 tbsp maida, 2 tbsp corn flour and salt as required. Add some water to form a thick batter. Keep it aside.
Take generous amount of bread crumbs on a plate to coat the patties.
After 30 minutes, cut the veggie patty log into thick discs. Slightly press down the patty discs on all sides to match the size of your burger bun.
Take each patty disc and coat them in the batter on both the sides and then coat them with breadcrumbs. Add some water to the batter to slightly thin it out. Now again, take the crumb-coated patty and dip them in the batter. Coat them on both the sides.
Now, again coat them in the bread crumbs for a double coat leayer.
Heat oil for shallow frying in a pan on medium heat.
Shallow fry the patties evenly on all sides until golden-brown in color.
Drain them onto a plate and set aside.

Assembling the burger

Slice the burger bun into two and toast it with some butter.
Take the bottom of the burger bun and place a lettuce leaf on it.
Place one veggie patty on top of the lettuce leaf. On the patty, place a cheese slice and two sliced tomato pieces.
Take the top of the burger bun, and generously apply some burger mayo on it and place few sliced onions on it. Place the top of the burger on the bottom piece.
Serve hot with some french fires and soft drinks.

Notes

The patty mixture will yield about 6-8 patties.
Chop all the vegetables finely and cook them until they are soft and all the moisture is released.
Adding breadcrumbs to the veggie mixture will help absorb the excess moisture. You can also add washed poha to the burger patty.
Making a log and freezing them will help you make even patty slices and also helps in bringing all the ingredients of the patty together.
For the first batter coating, a thick batter is formed which is later thinned out for the second coating.
Double coating the patties will ensure crisp patties.
Fry the patties evenly on both sides on a medium flame until golden-brown.
If you do not have burger mayo, then add some ketchup (as per taste) to plain mayo and use instead of the burger mayo

Keyword american, breakfast, burger, vegetable patty, vegetables, veggie burger

Veggie burger