Delicious Burgers – Without the Beef

There’s nothing quite like a burger. When the craving hits, it’s an “accept no substitutes” kind of situation; only one thing will do the trick. Well, this Beyond Burger recipe checks every meat-lover’s boxes, and it does it using only plants.

If you want to avoid eating beef (or meat in general) a traditional burger experience seems out of reach. There are many wonderful recipes for burgers made from black beans, mixed veggies, quinoa, salmon… actually, pretty much anything you can think of. However, these don’t always fully capture the same feeling as a beef burger.

Now, you can have all of the beef flavor with none of the beef. Beyond Burgers are a great alternative to meat, faithfully replicating the taste, texture, and look of hamburger. This recipe makes four delicious Beyond Beef burgers, complete with golden caramelized onions and a mouthwatering garlic aoli. Not only are these burgers meat-free, they are also vegan!

Ingredients

Garlic Aoli

2/3 cup vegan mayonnaise

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

2-3 teaspoons water (optional)

Caramelized Onions

1 tbsp. vegan butter

1 large yellow onion, sliced

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

Burger

4 Beyond Burger patties

3 cups arugula

4 slices Daiya cheddar cheese

4 buns of your choice

Directions

1) Add vegan mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, and sea salt to a blender or food processor. Process until smooth. Scrape down the sides and then add as much water as needed. Blend and repeat until desired consistency. Set to the side.

2) Over medium-low heat, melt the vegan butter in a thick-bottomed stainless steel or cast iron pan. Add the sliced onions and cook for 10 minutes to soften, stirring as needed. Add a pinch of salt and the sugar, then reduce the heat and continue to cook the onions for 30 minutes to one hour until they are deep amber in color and caramelized. While the onions are browning, feel free to relax; they don’t need much supervision. Just turn them often enough that they don’t burn, but not so much that they won’t brown. Finish off with the balsamic vinegar, thyme, and garlic, Cook for an additional three minutes and set aside.

3) Cook Beyond Burgers according to package instructions. Two to three minutes before patty is finished cooking add a slice of Daiya cheddar cheese and allow it to melt. Covering the pan with a lid may help the cheese melt faster. Toast your buns for two to three minutes. Top with Beyond Burger patty followed by caramelized onions and fresh arugula. Spread garlic aoli on top bun half and enjoy!

There you have it – the perfect Beyond Burger recipe. Try these out on a night in, or make them for company. For added fun, see if anyone can guess that they’re made without beef!