Amaranth veggie burger recipe

The veggie burger recipe, reinvented

Not so long ago, healthy eating was reserved for a few 'health nuts' and nobody knew how to pronounce 'quinoa'. Those were the days of the frozen, mass-produced burger and anaemic oven chip. And, while we remember loving them at the time, we're quite pleased that things have moved on a bit since then. In the early days of the veggie burger, ingredients tended to centre around mashed beans (slightly too soft), later moving into soy protein and meat substitutes (divisive). They all have their place in the veggie burger hall of fame, but recent years have seen veggie burger recipes expand into new territories of experimentation.

The texture equation

In a burger, texture is key. Anything designed to be sandwiched in a bread bun must be able to hold its own, without collapsing into squishiness at first bite. A satisfying burger has to have enough bite to act as the centrepiece of the sandwich, but also has to be juicy. This is where Erbology Organic Amaranth Grain excels, taking in lots of moisture as it cooks and holding onto it to create a juicy centre to the burger. It must also have a crispy outside, which can be achieved by shallow frying with a little grapeseed oil. The result is a satisfying, filling patty with a crunchy outer layer, which reveals a firm and juicy centre.     

Make it messy

The veggie burger is not to be eaten prudishly with a knife and fork. This is messy, finger-licking food, to be laden with toppings. Try it packed into a burger bun with red onion jam, or piled with iceberg lettuce and vegan cheese. Fries are the burger's natural companion, but you could also go rogue and serve these patties on top of a hearty, warm salad, or in a no-meatball sub. Use our veggie burger recipe as a base to make your own creations. A few good ideas to try would be adding other fresh herbs and a small squeeze of lemon, or maybe to introduce a tomato-based sauce in place of the soy.

Amaranth recipes

Have our veggie burgers inspired you to try out more amaranth recipes? We've got you covered. We have a whole host of amaranth recipes to try. Why not try our protein bars with amaranth pops, or our mushroom burger with amaranth flour? You can also find amaranth grain in our protein bowl with roasted veggies.

The ancient grain

While it's a fairly new addition to the shelves of health food stores, amaranth has been around for a very long time. So long, in fact, that it was a staple food of the Aztecs. It's full of healthy fibre, which will help to keep you feeling full. About 78% of amaranth's fibre is insoluble, while 22% is soluble. Both types are important for your health. Insoluble fibre bulks out the food moving through your digestive system, slowing the process down so your body has time to absorb all the healthy nutrients. Meanwhile, soluble fibre reacts with water to form a gel in your gut, helping everything to move along more easily.(1)     

Magnificent magnesium

A cup of cooked amaranth also boasts 40% of our daily recommended magnesium intake.(2) Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions and is needed to help regulate muscular contractions, blood pressure, and insulin metabolism. Magnesium deficiencies are common, but a diet including plenty of water, greens, nuts, seeds and unprocessed grains can help. If you suspect you might not be getting enough magnesium, take action by changing your diet. Low levels of magnesium have been associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).(3)

High in iron

The same serving of amaranth would also provide over a quarter of our daily recommended iron intake. We need iron to build haemoglobin. This is the compound in our red blood cells which transports oxygen around the body in order to perform vital functions such as breathing and powering muscles. Iron requirements vary by gender and fluctuate during different life stages (i.e. puberty, pregnancy, menopausal and postmenopausal). As adults, we store 1 to 3 grams of iron in our bodies but lose around 1mg each day through normal bodily processes. In order to ensure we have adequate iron levels, it is important to include iron-rich foods in our diets.(4) While minerals, protein and fibre are all very good excuses to indulge in our amaranth burgers, there is one even more compelling reason: they're downright delicious!