If you love vegetarian food or are looking to experiment with it, the walnut burger is definitely something you should try. The idea of a walnut burger might sound freaky but believe us when we say that one bite in, and you will wonder where this burger has been your entire life.
Walnut burgers taste extremely meaty, so you will not even realize that you are not eating actual meat. Moreover, they are different from other veggie burgers that you may have eaten in the past. This is because this walnut burger recipe does not use any beans. Of course, beans and lentils are great, but it is good to see a recipe swapped out for something different.
Keep in mind that this is a vegetarian recipe, but it is not vegan. If you do not eat eggs, you can always use an egg replacement. Make any changes that seem necessary, whether you want more spices, prefer a different kind of cheese, or want to work with different mushrooms than the ones mentioned in this recipe. Remember, the world is your oyster, so be as creative as you want!
Walnut Burger Recipe- Ingredients
- Olive oil: 1 teaspoon
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Cremini mushrooms: 8 ounces, chopped roughly
- Shiitake mushrooms: 4 ounces, chopped roughly
- Onion: 1, chopped finely
- Walnuts: ¾ cup
- Panko breadcrumbs: 1 cup
- Egg: 1, beaten
- Kosher salt: To taste
- Black pepper: Freshly ground, to taste
- Olive oil: 2-3 tablespoons
How to Make a Walnut Patty
Step 1
Take a large pan and heat a single teaspoon of olive oil on it using medium heat. Throw in the garlic and stir it around for 30 seconds. You need to wait till you can smell the garlic.
Step 2
Add onions and mushrooms to the pan and continue stirring until all the ingredients are softened. This process should take between five to eight minutes.
Step 3
Get a food processor and pulse the walnuts in it. Continue pulsing till they are powdery. However, you must ensure that the walnuts do not become sticky.
Step 4
Add the mixture in the pan with the mushrooms and onions to the food processor. Let the processor do its job until all the ingredients get to know each other well enough. If the mixture is too hot, open the top of the machine to let some of the steam escape.
Step 5
Once the mixture is ready, take it out in a big bowl. Add the egg and breadcrumbs to the bowl, and season using salt and pepper. Continue stirring this mixture thoroughly until it is combined properly. Use a plastic wrap to cover it up and allow it to sit in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes.
If you meal plan, you can make this mixture in the morning and take it out of the fridge at night. The longer it stays cold, the better.
Step 6
When you are ready to cook it, divide the mixture into four parts to form four patties. Make sure that you do not make them too thick, as this will increase the cooking time and might dry them up.
Step 7
Use a non-stick pan and adjust it over medium heat. Add in two or three tablespoons of olive oil and let it heat.
Carefully add in the patties so that they do not break, and cook each side for three minutes, or until you see them turning brown.
Step 8
Once you have cooked both sides equally, lay the patties out on a paper towel to absorb the extra oil. Then, all you have to do is make your favorite burgers.
Nutritional Information
- Total calories: 324 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 21 grams
- Protein: 9 grams
- Fat: 24 grams
- Saturated fat: 2 grams
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
- Sodium: 133 mg
- Sugar: 4 grams
- Vitamin A: 60 IU
- Vitamin C: 2.8 mg
- Calcium: 74 mg
- Iron: 2mg
How to Assemble the Walnut Burger
Now comes the best part- assembling. Assembling the walnut burger is the main step. Even though the patty alone tastes amazing, who can say no to carbs?
For the best burger, get some fresh lettuce and soak in it ice water, so it is extra crunchy. Meanwhile, chop some onions and tomatoes. Get hold of your favorite cheese (pro tip: gouda and cheddar are great options for this recipe. Make sure to melt your cheese sufficiently without burning so that your burger tastes professional.
Add some of your favorite sauces, like chipotle, mustard, chili sauce, and thousand island. Smear the sauces onto both sides of the bun generously. Add some pickled cucumbers, as well as onions and tomatoes for the extra kick.
Make sure to toast both sides of the bun. For the ultimate experience, you must make sure that the buns are moist yet crispy. This will really make you feel like you are eating in a fine dining restaurant. Once the buns are hot, assemble the burger and sit down to eat. Remember to eat it fresh otherwise; the patty might get hard.
You can also make this into a bigger meal by adding some freshly-fried fries sprinkled with seasoning or a crunchy, basic salad.
How to Make Your Walnut Burger More Interesting
- If you like crunch, you have to add some fried cheese curds and onion rings to your walnut burger.
- Top your patty with beefsteak tomato, diced or sliced onion, and some spicy mayo for a different taste.
- If you are looking to cut down on carbs, you can ditch the bun. Instead, crumble the burger patty into a salad or scoop it up into a tortilla. You can also wrap the entire patty in a lettuce head and consume it with cheese and sauces.
- If you are looking for a gluten-free version, you can use gluten-free breadcrumbs instead of
- Use lots of vegetarian chili for an extra spice kick. You can also add in some extra tangy pickles.
- Experiment with some vegan eggs.
