Monday, 4 July 2016

Creating Garden Veggie Patties At Home

By Peter Turner


When looking to improve a diet, hamburgers and cheeseburgers are not generally the answer. Although, there are now healthier options which taste almost the same as ground beef. One of which, is by making delicious garden veggie patties at home.

While some recipes are better than others, there is one recipe which is quite flexible when it comes to preparation. As with the frozen version, this recipe will assure alternative burgers maintain shape and size while cooking. It should be noted that while eggs are the best binder, vegans can easily substitute Nayonaise, a vegan brand of mayo for the eggs.

While there is no official recipe, the base for these home made items include equal parts rice, lentil and oats along with a binder. After which, the mixture is combined, shaped into patties, then fried in a shallow non-stick skillet. Many find using olive or vegetable oil to be the best bet when frying these type items. The remaining oil can then be used to create a nice country or brown gravy.

While there are several black bean, chicken, soy bean, vegetable and veggie protein burgers now on the market, these items can all be made easily at home. For example, when making chicken patties, simply replace the lentils with a can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans. To convert burgers to sausage patties, simply add a few tablespoons sage to the mix without adding the vegetables. One of the only store bought items that is difficult to make at home is that of veggie bacon though it can be done by using vegetable protein, then adding spices and cutting into strips.

While using the frozen version of meat alternatives may be faster and easier, many do lack when it comes to taste. As a result, many home chefs now prefer to make these items at home. When it comes to recreating alternatives to breakfast items such as sausage or bacon, this can easily be done by adding the appropriate spices to the basic mix of lentils, oats and rice. For example, when making vegetable sausage patties, simply add a few tablespoons of salt, pepper, coriander and sage.

To make a chicken alternative for burgers, salads or a main course, simply replace the lentils with chickpeas and eliminate the vegetables. Then, dredge the patty in flour and fry. Once the patties are golden brown, freeze the patties for at least 24-48 hours to assure each holds its shape, taste, texture and size. One of the best meals on some restaurant menus is that of fried chicken salad. To create this dish, simply cut one to two veggie chicken patties in cubes, then add to a bed of lettuce, tomato and cucumbers and top with honey mustard or other dressing as desired.

Home cooks and professionals often use different blends of spices in preparing these items. In doing so, while the contents are often similar, each meal will have a different taste. As such, many use marinades and spices, like soy or teriyaki sauce, seasoned salt, maple spice power and others to create a wide taste variety over time.

When storing, it is important to use a closed container. Otherwise, these alternatives can experience freezer burn quite quickly. A good storage source for many are the plastic coffee cans which Folgers, Yuban and other coffees are now marketed. In addition, by reusing these and other containers once empty, individuals are also helping the planet.




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