The biggest complaints with veggie burgers is that they’re either mushy or downright dry or they simply fall apart as soon as you pick them up.
Cooking Tips
These Burgers Have a Secret Ingredient: Carrot Baby Food
Rich, meaty flavor without any beef.
By Published July 22, 2022
Sure, there are plant-based meat alternatives that are plenty tasty. But if you’re looking to stick to vegetables, try these Vegan Pinto Bean–Beet Burgers on for size. They’re hearty and packed with rich, umami flavors and they will appeal to vegans and non-vegans alike, guaranteed.
They also include an unexpected ingredient: carrot baby food.
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Baby food might seem like an unusual addition to a meal for grown adults, but hear me out. The carrot version brings a lot to the table:
- It keeps it all together. The carrot baby food added tackiness and, with the panko bread crumbs, forms an excellent binder.
- It complements the beets. The subtle sweetness of the carrots heightens the sweetness of the shredded beets.
- It’s convenient. Sure you could steam and puree carrots yourself but why? Using baby food saves tons of time and it’s already the perfect consistency to mix into your burgers.
In addition to the baby food, these burgers are full of more good-for-you ingredients such as bulgur, walnuts and pinto beans. But this isn’t any old bean burger. It has texture and a “meaty” consistency that’s further enhanced by our Classic Burger Sauce. A shredded raw beet gives the burger a beefy color. Once it’s all pulsed together, it even looks a little like ground beef (seriously!).
The recipe makes eight burgers and they freeze beautifully, making them a delicious, convenient meal for entertaining or weeknight comfort. So take a detour down the baby food aisle the next time you’re in the grocery store, you won’t be disappointed.
Watch our test cooks prepare these tasty burgers here: