Better Burger 2.0

It is pretty easy to tell which of our recipes are in the heaviest rotation.  Our favs.  They're the pages that are nearly stuck together in the cookbooks.  They're the recipe cards that are faded and obscured by time and all the accumulated splatters and drips.  

I recently copied our Better Burger recipe onto a new card.  When we started on the vegan path in 2006, well before we knew anything about seitan or what the heck to do with tofu, Better Burger was among our first go-to vegetarian protein sources.  We sure ate a lot of kidney bean patties and Better Burgers back then.  And peanut sauces.  :)

We've made no alterations to the base of the burger recipe over the years, but we play around with the spices depending on the effect we're after--subbing sage and fennel for a sausage flavor, say, or cumin and oregano for Mexican cuisine.  We also have vastly expanded its range of use since the beginning.  It started as a hamburger patty replacement.  Then it became meatballs.  Then it became crumbled burger for lasagna, tacos, and so much more.  I like to brown chunks of the burger in a skillet on the stove to top pizzas and spaghetti pizza bake. 

It is a solid little recipe that continues to serve us well.  I wonder how long until this new card picks up some splatters.  I'm sure this pristine state can't last for long given that we use this recipe card almost every week.

Better Burgers (A slightly altered version of the recipe found in Vegan Vittles by Jo Stepaniak)

1 C TVP
1/4 C rolled oats
1 T Italian seasoning
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t dry mustard
2 T sesame seeds

3/4 C almost-boiling water
2 T ketchup
2 T tamari or soy sauce

1 T peanut butter

1/4 C flour
1 T nutritional yeast

Place the first six ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
In another bowl, mix the ketchup, soy sauce, and water until blended.
Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and stir well.
Let rest and hydrate for five minutes.
Add peanut butter and mix well.
Add in the flour and yeast and mix well again.
Shape into four to six patties.  (or make "meatballs" or crumble it up like burger)
Fry in a lightly oiled pan until browned.  These can also be done in the air fryer, brushed with a little oil.  

Note:  This post was revised and updated on 9/21/2022.