SERVES 4
PREP TIME: 25 minutes
ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes
INACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ medium yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces cremini mushrooms (or button mushrooms), sliced
2 cups cooked lentils
2 tablespoons liquid aminos (or gluten-free tamari; use coconut aminos to be soy-free)
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce (gluten-free and/or soy-free if necessary), optional
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste
1 cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free if necessary), plus more if needed
½ cup quinoa flour
3 tablespoons almond flour
2 tablespoons flax meal
4 vegan burger buns (gluten-free if necessary)
Optional burger fixings: ketchup, mustard (gluten-free if necessary), vegan mayonnaise (soy-free if necessary), relish, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onion, pickles
Steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F . Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms and sauté until the mushrooms are tender and the onions are translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a food processor. Add 1 cup of the lentils, the liquid aminos, nutritional yeast, Worcestershire sauce (if using), cumin, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pulse until fully combined and all pieces are similar in size.
3. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the remaining lentils, the oats, quinoa flour, almond flour, and flax meal and mix until a thick dough forms. If it’s too liquidy, add more oats. If it’s too dry, add water by the tablespoon until it’s no longer crumbly. It should hold together without crumbling when squeezed.
4. Use your hands to form the mixture into 8 patties and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through to ensure even cooking. Drizzle cheese sauce over the tops and bake for another 5 minutes.
5. To assemble, spread ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and/or relish on the top and bottom halves of the buns. Place some lettuce on the bottom bun and stack two patties on top. Top the patties with tomato, red onion, and/or pickles, as desired. Serve immediately. Leftover burgers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.