I’m always concocting new veggie burger recipes at home, now that I don’t buy packaged or processed veggie burgers anymore because of the scary ingredients and additives they contain. These quinoa masala burgers I made last night turned out FABULOUS and are too EASY not to make ASAP.
The best part? You can make several ahead of time and either freeze or refrigerate them for later. They also make a perfect burger to bring over to a cook out. Just have the grill master plop them on the grill to reheat and you’ve got a delicious plant based protein packed meal.
- ½ cup quinoa dry (cooked to package instructions)
- 1 baked sweet potato with skin removed
- 1 egg slightly beaten or 1 tbsp flax seed mixed with 2 tbsp water
- a few springs of fresh cilantro diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 inch piece of ginger minced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp curry powder
- ¼ tsp mustard seed
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- melted coconut oil for brushing burgers
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Combine all ingredients and mix in a large bowl
- Form mixture into 8 patties
- Place patties on a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper
- Brush top of burgers with a small amount of coconut oil
- Bake for 15 mins, then flip burgers and coat with coconut oil again
- Bake for another 15 mins or until golden brown
I’ve never tried the Trader Joe’s Masala Burgers before, but if you have, I’d love to know how these compare. I know one thing, the ingredients I used are definitely an upgrade! Using quinoa as a base vs. white potatoes and bread crumbs adds a complete protein to the mix. I like Tru Roots Sprouted Quinoa Trio – it’s a pantry staple I cannot live without!
My favorite way to consume these masala burgers are with a large salad and topped with pickles. YUM.
Enjoy!
Food Babe
Hi! This recipe looks killer, but I’m not a fan of sweet burgers. I know that regular potato doesn’t have as much nutrition, but would that give a similar consistency?
Hi Christa – I think a regular potato would probably work. You might like them with the sweet potato though. They are not really sweet – there is a hint but they have all of those great spices so there is a really unique flavor to them. So yummy.
I JUST finished feeding the whole famy these burgers. They were AMAZING! My kids and husband NEVER eat the same foods bc my husband likes spicy and HOT food. I added chopped jalepeno on his burgers just before baking. I did not omit the cayenne from the others and my 2 1/2 yr old and 4 1/2 ur gobbled them up! Excellent fusion of flavors. Not too sweet and not too spicy but super-flavorful!!
Thanks for making my night!
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing…
i made these today and they were great! i made a few changes though. i sauteed the onion with spices. upped the amount of spice too. i also added organic peas and chopped a bunch of og. spinach and steamed them along with the sweet potatoes. turned out really tasty. been making a variety of veggie burgers from scratch for years and these were a welcomed addition to the rotation. thanks a bunch for all your great work! i follow your efforts and really appreciate them.
Having been online looking @ the serious consequences (environmental and social to name a couple) of the worldwide demand for quinoa exported from a tiny growing region, I am no longer buying quinoa. How about rice instead?
If you’re referring to the article that was published regarding the popularity of quinoa driving up the prices so that the locals can’t even afford to eat the grain that they’re harvesting – that was debunked. Look into it. It’s perfectly safe to buy this product w/o hurting the villagers who are making their living from it.
Just made these and they are delicious! Thanks for all you do and the yummy recipes! 5*****
I’ve been vegetarian for 3-1/2 years now, but I’m not a cook and really don’t care to. I’ve been eating mostly the products listed above. I’m also pursuing disability (living with a very understanding friend) and I don’t have an income at this time. So, I can’t even afford to go out and buy most of the ingredients for the recipes even if I did want to cook. I’d like to become vegan, but again, I can’t afford to. What other options do I have?
Hi Andrea. Hope it’s ok if I jump in with a reply here. So sorry to hear that you are facing some challenges. My experience has been that meat and dairy are usually the most expensive things to buy at the grocery! Going vegan is a great way to SAVE MONEY! I make these burgers often but I simplify the recipe. Buying the quinoa in the bulk section of the grocery store makes it very affordable. Don’t be fooled by its tiny size….it swells to 3-4 times its size once cooked, and is a complete protein! If I was going to make this recipe on a super-tight budget, I’d use quinoa, sweet potato, egg or flax seed, half an onion, salt and pepper,and then I’d pick one other herb or spice, from the ingredient list, that appeals to you. I always use 1/2 an onion and I cut way back on the spices (omitting a few) when I make this recipe. Last night, i made them and cut the coconut oil by 1/2, only brushing one side. When you are on a budget, buy whatever fruits and veggies are on sale and eat them in a very simple way! Let the taste of the foods you are eating shine through. Lots of herbs and spices not needed. The bulk section is your best friend for affordable beans and grains
good luck!
Hi Vani! Love your website and all the great information you are sharing with the world. My husband, daughter and myself ate pretty well, but we are now taking a closer look at the ingredient labels and are switching over to eating organic! Last night I made your Quinoa Masala Burgers and they were a big HIT! Yummy and full of flavor. Thanks for all your great work and the recipes you share