When summer arrives, it’s time to fire up the grill. It may be difficult to navigate outdoor cookouts whether you are new to vegetarianism, are considering making the switch, or are already following a plant-based diet. It may be simpler to prepare a dinner that is heavy on vegetables at home or to choose a meat-free option from the menu at a restaurant; however, preparing a meal on your neighbor’s grill may prove to be more difficult. Those who adhere to a plant-based diet may, thanks to the existence of veggie burgers, nonetheless take part in the activities associated with warmer weather.
Even if you do not follow a plant-based diet, there are a variety of compelling reasons to cut down on the amount of red meat you consume on a regular basis. According to studies cited by the Harvard Medical School, excessive levels of intake of red meat are associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even mortality at an earlier age. Alternating your diet to include less meat-based meals may not only be better for your health, but it may also be better for the environment. A number of types of proteins, most notably beef, have seen their prices rise to the point that they are now considered to be luxury commodities.
However, in the end, a vegetarian burger ought to have a satisfying flavor. One of the most common blunders that people make while making vegetarian burgers is not getting the texture of the patties just right, as stated by The Kitchn. If you don’t know what you’re doing when you make homemade veggie burgers, you might end up with mushy patties that can’t compete with their meat-based counterparts.
When you precook your vegetables, some of the moisture is removed from them.
One simple solution to the issue of a veggie burger patty that is too mushy is to evaporate some of the moisture that is included in the components (via The Kitchn). By doing so, you stop your burger from effectively cooking itself in its own juices from the inside out. A technique that may be used is to char the surface of the veggies and any other raw components in order to extract more of their moisture. Moisture is one of the deadliest enemies of the Maillard Processes, and you need those chemical reactions in order to have an appealing color and a flavorful char on the exterior of your burger (via Jessica Gavin). According to The Conversation, scientists have been striving to mimic this response in plant-based alternatives, even though it is most often seen in burgers made with meat as the primary ingredient.
Cooking some of the veggies that will be used to make the veggie burger in advance is the most effective method for reducing the amount of moisture that will be present in the final product (via The Kitchn). Mushrooms, zucchinis, and eggplants are only few of the vegetables that contain a high percentage of water content. Pre-cooking veggies, as stated in The New York Times, allows for the removal of excess moisture and reduces the likelihood that the vegetables would become mushy in the future. There are many other veggies that hold up well after being cooked for a short period of time, but this is an excellent chance to experiment with a variety of ingredients in order to create the ideal vegetarian burger.