I have mentioned before that one of my favorite foods that I miss from my meat-eating days is my dad’s meatloaf. There was always just something so delicious and comforting about sitting down to that meal. You may remember, though, that I have found an awfully delicious substitute in my Vegetarian “Meatloaf.” I love the vegetarian version so much that I have been trying to think of ways that I can incorporate the flavors into other dishes.
I was having a crazy and creative night several weeks ago, and it was at about this time that I suddenly thought, “why not make the “meatloaf” into burgers?” Yes, this happened:
“Meatloaf” Veggie Burgers
Servings: Makes 4 burgers
Ingredients
For the “Meatloaf” Veggie Burgers:
EVOO cooking spray
1/4 green pepper, roughly chopped
1/4 yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 15 oz can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup cooked lentils
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup onion soup mix (make sure the one you select does not contain beef)
1 TB ketchup
1 tsp BBQ sauce
1/8 tsp onion powder
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
For the optional sauce:
1 TB vegan mayo (I used Vegenaise brand)
1/4 tsp ketchup
1/8 tsp sriracha sauce
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a foil-lined baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Combine pepper and onion in food processor and pulse a few times.
3. Add pinto beans to the food processor and pulse until the beans are mashed and thick, but with some bean pieces remaining intact.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the pepper, onion, and bean mixture with the remaining burger ingredients. Stir until mixed well.
5. Form the burger mixture into four equal-sized patties. Place on the baking sheet.
6. Bake for approximately 10 minutes. Remove from oven and flip. Bake an additional 8-10 minutes, or until both sides have browned and are crispy.
7. Combine vegan mayo, ketchup, and sriracha sauce in a small bowl and stir until mixed well.
8. Serve your “Meatloaf” Veggie Burgers by themselves (as I did) or on a whole wheat bun and top with the vegan sauce and your other favorite toppings, if desired.
Yes, I realize that the sauce does not look very pretty. But I promise, it tastes good! 😉
I served my “Meatloaf” Veggie Burgers alongside some delicious and colorful green peas.
Now, I really must admit that these veggie burgers taste a bit less like “meatloaf” than I had intended ;). The flavor is there, but not as strong as it is in my Vegetarian “Meatloaf.” Even still, these made for some delicious veggie burgers. I also loved that they were a bit out of the norm compared to the “traditional” veggie burger. So fair warning…when you make these “Meatloaf” Veggie Burgers, please do not have your heart set on a traditional meatloaf taste. But, do be ready to eat a delicious vegetarian burger!
