It is both Hamburger Month and May 6 is No Diet Day so we’re about to rock your socks off with some decidedly non-diet, hamburger ideas that you’ll go nuts for! The hamburger is an oldie but a goodie tracing back to the Mongol Empire. The Mongols used to mince horsemeat, a culinary tradition that passed down to the Russians who brought it to Hamburg, Germany during the early part of the 19th century. Ships from Hamburg often arrived in New York and before 1900, New York restaurants were serving ‘Hamburg steaks.’ They were seasoned patties of ground beef and were adored by the German immigrants. Today, there are beef burgers, veggie burgers, turkey burgers, fish burgers and everything in between.
Read Related: 12 Non-Meat Foods that Are Great for Grilling
So, if you’re a vegetarian wanting to celebrate No Diet Day with a big, juicy burger, try one of these 12 awesome veggie burgers, and we’re pretty sure you won’t miss the meat.
1. Mushroom Burger with Barley
This veggie burger is based on a delicious mushroom and barley soup. It’s both simple and hearty and can be altered in flavor and texture by substituting a different type of mushroom. The burger is chewy and nutty tasting and positively yummy!
2. Beet & Bean Burger
This burger pairs well with a slice of provolone cheese, some bitter greens, and a buttery toasted bun. It includes bits of beets, black beans, and brown rice but the combination is well-balanced and savory. Interesting.
3. Sweet Potato-Pecan Burger with Caramelized Onion
The name alone sells you on this one, no? I mean… come on, what’s not to love?
4. Black Bean & Sweet Potato Burger
A black bean and sweet potato combination is perfect for vegetarian hamburger creations because it balances sweetness, chewiness and the stickiness veggies need to stay packed in a patty on a bun! We love this combo.
5. Quinoa & White Bean Burger
This burger is slightly more sophisticated in taste and texture. We love the extra protein from the quinoa!
7. Grilled Portobello & Peach Burger
Portobello adds class and flavor to any dish, and the mushroom is so hearty that it makes a great meat substitute. Super sweet and juicy, this one is amazing!
8. Baked Eggplant Burger
If you treat your eggplant right, this burger is chewy and sumptuous. For the vegetarian who misses the ‘chew’ of meat, this one is a sure thing.
9. Spicy Vegan Chili Burgers
The only truly spicy burger on our list, this one is also vegan so no egg or milk products are harmed. Guilt free and delectable!
10. Quinoa Veggie Burger
This one is super healthy and packed with protein. Not only is it a yummy substitute for a meat-filled hamburger, it’s a nutritional rock star as well!
11. Maple Chipotle Sweet Potato Burger
This one is so sweet and delicious we’re thinking we could even fry it up like a plantain, top it with some ice cream, and call it dessert… because it is No Diet Day, right?
12. Vegan Tortas Ahogadas
This isn’t exactly a burger, but it does come served on a bun. And by the looks of it, OMG YUM! That’s all we got on this one.
