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01/15/2020 11:01 PMSo, how do you feel about plant-based burgers?
A section in the meat section of my local Stop & Shop now stocks Awesome Burgers, Beyond Meat burgers, and an assortment of burgers, sausages, and patties from Lightlife, Nature’s Promise, and Pure, the latter a line of plant-based burgers from Smithfield Foods, otherwise best known for being the largest pig and pork producer in the world.
Detractors, of whom there are many, point out that the name “plant based” is ironic, because many of the ingredients, while perhaps derived from plants, don’t in any, way, shape, or form resemble anything you might grow in your garden. And they are pricey, with some of the burgers costing about $3 each when they are not on sale.
Is it healthier than a regular burger? Most of them are comparable when it comes to calories. The plant-based burgers tend to be packed with sodium, like most prepared foods. Burgers have higher cholesterol.
As for me, I’ve tried several of the brands at the supermarket, and they are not bad. Some are even pretty good.
The plant-based burgers do edge out the real burgers when it comes to having a lower carbon footprint. And, of course, no animals have to die. For those who are tending vegetarian or vegan for ethical reasons, but who miss a burger every now and again, the plant-based burgers tend to be popular treat, every now and again.
The every now and again seems to be the key. I read that the average person eats three hamburgers a week, which amounts to about 50 billion burgers a year. Whether you go for a plant-based burger with all of its processed ingredients, or a real burger, with its associated ethical issues, saving it for a special treat seems to be the way to go.
Either way, I like my burgers loaded. Here’s an idea from Beyond Meat for a Nacho Burger. This is definitely vegan, but if that’s not your thing, you could use it as inspiration for one with all the meat and all the cheese.
For more recipes from Beyond Meat—including several more burgers, a tater tot casserole, and stuffed peppers—visit www.beyondmeat.com/recipes.
Nacho(Beyond) Burger
Recipe from Beyond Meat
4 Beyond Burger patties (2 packages)
½ head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 ½ cups fresh Pico de Gallo
3 cups tortilla chips
2.5 cups vegan nacho cheese
(recipe below)
6 slices vegan bacon (optional)
Pickled jalapeno, sliced
3 cups fresh guacamole
4 sesame buns
Vegan Nacho Cheese Ingredients:
¾ cup canned coconut milk
3 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
2 tbsp tapioca flour
½ tsp sea salt (or to taste)
½ tsp onion powder (optional)
¼ tsp garlic powder (optional)
Pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
Vegan Nacho Cheese Instructions: Bring saucepan to medium heat. Once heated, put all ingredients into a saucepan. Stir with a whisk and bring the mixture to a boil. Let simmer on low to medium heat for about one minute until the sauce is thickened and stretchy. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more coconut milk (up to 1 cup). You can substitute any plant-based milk for the coconut milk.
Burger Instructions: Cook Beyond Meat Burger Patties according to package directions. Top the bun with lettuce followed by Pico de Gallo, burger patty, tortilla chips, vegan nacho cheese, vegan bacon, jalapenos, and guacamole.