For the best veggie lentil burgers, make sure you cook the lentils perfectly to achieve the right texture and density for forming the patties. You can find all the tips and tricks you need to know in our guide to how to cook red lentils.
Equally you don’t have to use red lentils. Many chefs explore other varieties and use black or brown lentils for their veggie burgers instead. We’ve recommended using red lentils in the recipe above as they break down into a soft consistency during cooking. This makes them naturally easy to bind together into a patty-like burger. They also have a mild and nutty taste that doesn’t dominate the other ingredients in the dish.
If you’re interested in using black lentils for your burger, then you can find out all about this little ingredient in our go-to article. Unlike red lentils, black lentils hold their texture after cooking, so will need to be mixed with eggs or breadcrumbs to be mashed into a stickier base. If you do prefer a firmer and chunkier burger patty, however, black lentils are a handy option to keep in mind.
When forming the patties, take care to ensure that they’re all roughly the same size, shape and thickness. This helps to make sure that they cook at the same rate, if you’re grilling them at the same time. Whether pan-frying or using the grill, keep it to a medium heat to avoid overcooking, and limit it to two minutes for each side. If your patties are quite thick, you may need an additional minute to crisp up the outer layer.
How to garnish and serve
A lentil burger is at its best when classically served between two burger buns. For a gourmet approach, toast two slices of brioche bread to add a crispiness to your burger. You can then garnish and add sauce to your lentil burger much as you would a classic beef burger. Ingredients like pickles and lettuce add a freshness to the plate, whereas caramelised onions bring a delicious sweetness to contrast the nutty notes of the red lentils. Creamy avocado slices add a colourful appeal and add a new textural dimension to the burger.
Spread a tasty burger sauce on your bread buns before adding the lentil burgers. For a kick of heat, sriracha pairs naturally with the slight sweetness of the red lentils, or you could use a classic burger sauce, such as mayonnaise, for a more indulgent topping. A slice of melted cheese adds a final elevated touch to your plant-based burger.
Vegan variation
To make vegan lentil burgers, all you’ll need to do to adapt the recipe above is to remove the egg. You can switch in aquafaba (chickpea water) in place of the egg to help bind the burgers. Simply whip the aquafaba gently before adding to the lentils, and it’ll act as a binding agent, much like egg whites.
Once you’ve had your fill of this plant-based burger, you can explore a world of burgers to try making at home with our selection of the nine main types of burgers to make.
