Mushroom Pecan Burger – OMG!

This Mushroom Pecan Burger raises the bar on veggie burgers.  Seriously.  The recipe caught my eye because, as you know, it’s National Mushroom Month and I am looking for different and exciting ways to cook with mushrooms all month.  I wasn’t expecting a “burger” to change my life. (OK, perhaps I’m being a bit dramatic here.  Or am I?)

Many thanks to Dreena Burton, author of Everyday Vegan for posting her Makeover of a Mushroom Burger recipe.  I hadn’t tried her Mushroom Burger recipe in her cookbook, but I saw this re-make recipe online.  It was this makeover recipe that I tried out last night. (Yes, I just linked to the same recipe twice in the same paragraph.  Believe me, it’s worth two links.)

This is how I enjoyed my burger:  plain, no bun, no condiments.  Nothing else was necessary.  That’s how fantastic it is.  My hubby ate his on a bun (probably a little dab of ketchup, I didn’t look.)

The flavor of this burger is phenomenal, but that’s not why it’s life-changing.  It’s the texture!  The biggest problem with veggie burgers, at least the healthy ones, is texture.  I’ve had many really good-tasting veggie patties, but I don’t like to call them “burgers”.  The word “burger” implies a certain texture.  One that holds up to eating it on a bun, with your hands.  I don’t mind veggie patties that you eat with a fork — some are very, very good.  I have several different recipes that I like to make.  I enjoy eating them all.  They just aren’t “burgers“.  Are you with me here?

These Mushroom Pecan Burgers have it all — taste and texture.  You can enjoy them quite plain, or you can enjoy them on a bun with all the condiments and toppings you care to add.  It won’t fall apart on you and make a huge mess.

If I hadn’t made these myself I would not have guessed that the principle ingredients include mushrooms and pecans.  It’s not anything like eating a portabella “burger” (a grilled portabella between a bun.)  Portabella “burgers” are also delicious, but also not a true “burger”.  This Mushroom Pecan Burger is the first time I’ve made a veggie patty that I’m willing to call a burger.  Hooray!

When you look at the recipe (have you already clicked over to see it?) you’ll notice a fairly lengthy list of ingredients.  Don’t be intimidated.  They are not hard to make and take only a few more minutes to prepare than most black bean burgers patties.  There is one extra step in that you cook the mushrooms, along with onions and garlic, before mixing it all together with the other ingredients.  The recipe makes 5-6 decent-sized burgers so it’s all well worth the effort.  I was cooking for just 2 last night and am so very happy to have leftover burgers.  So very happy.

I can not wait for lunch today.  Yummmmmm.