Oh you smokey apple-y veggie-y burger you! How you seduce me with your golden glow, your sensual aroma, and your pickle on the side. What more could a girl ask for? Maybe a side of Carrot Fries, but that’s it, I promise.
There I was standing in my Harry Potter kitchen, (my kitchen is under the stairs, you see), looking around for some inspiration for the 100 Ingredient Recipe Challenge. What ingredient shall I pick this time? I spotted the large bag of apples. Apple pie? No, that’s expected. Apple cider? Too hot outside. Applesauce, BORING! This challenge isn’t about doing the same old thing everyone expects, this is about exposing how awesome these ingredients are.
So I drummed my fingers on the counter, (much to the annoyance of my dog), and then I heard this funny ticking noise. Looking out the window I saw my neighbour lighting his barbecue with the built in starter button. Then it hit me, gah! Smoke! I love smoke. Not the cigarette kind, that’s foul. But the spicy, savoury, drool causing, aroma swirling up through the air kind. Now I had it. Smoke + apple + burger = YUM!
These aren’t just any ‘ol veggie burger you find in the grocery isle, this is a whole other story. After I polished off one of these bad boys, which took probably less than 60 seconds, I started picking at the baking pan. I ended up eating an entire patty all on it’s own. They are just that tasty. Then the next day I crumbled a pattie over a salad of spinach, red pepper, and cucumber with Creamy Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing. Delish!
It took me several batches to nail this just right, 4 to be exact, but I’m happy I took the time. These freeze great as well. Cook them first before popping them in your freezer then just reheat when you are ready to devour.
Preheat your oven to 350F (180C).
In a small bowl mix the ground flax seed with the warm water and set aside. Once it sits for awhile, it will look like this gross goo… but let’s be honest, chickens eggs are pretty gross  and gooey too.
Rinse your chickpeas. Did you know that most of the stuff that makes beans the musical fruit gets caught in the cooking liquid? So the better you rinse them the less, um, musical you will be. When rinsed and drained pour them into a large bowl and then mash them all up with a potato masher, and set those aside.
Take the large side of a grater and grate your apples up, everything except for the core. When they are all grated and lovely, transfer the apples to the chickpea bowl. As you are doing this, squeeze handfuls of the apple so the juice is left behind.
If you find it annoying to grate into a bowl, you can grate the apples on a cutting board, just don’t forget to squeeze the juice out before adding them to the chickpeas.
What to do with the leftover juice? You can discard it, but I like to save it for smoothies, or sauces, or best yet, just guzzle it down immediately. Now that’s fresh apple juice!
Add all the rest of your ingredients, including the flax mixture to the bowl with the chickpeas and apples.
And mix it all up until well combined.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Lightly wet your hands and grab a handful of your veggie mixture and form into patties. Smoosh them together so they are firm and will hold their shape.
Bake for 20 minutes. Flip them, and then bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until they are brown all over.
Smoke + apple + burger = YUM! Not just any old veggie burger you find in the grocery aisle, this is a whole other story. Tasty as is, or crumbled over salad!
- 3 tablespoons ground flax or ground chia
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 1 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 granny smith apples, grated and extra juice squeezed out
- 1/2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free if preferred)
- 1/3 cup parsley or cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup red or yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if preferred)
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Preheat your oven to 350F (180C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl mix the ground flax seed with the warm water and set aside.
In a large bowl and the chickpeas and mash them with a potato masher. Add the flax, along with all the remaining ingredients and mix well.
Lightly wet your hands and grab a handful of your veggie mixture and form into patties. Press the mixture together so the patties are firm and will hold their shape. Repeat to make 6 patties.
Bake for 20 minutes. Flip them, and then bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until they are brown all over.
Nutrition
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Bon Appetegan!
Hi, I just love your recipes. They are uncomplicated and very tasty. Bought your book and I have been sharing your blog with some friends to inspire them. Just one question though…isn’t liquid smoke cancerÃgenos? Would appreciate your feedback on this. Keep up the great work!!
Aww shucks, thank you so much, Isabel! Thrilled you are enjoying my recipes so much 🙂 As for liquid smoke, it’s pretty safe. “It turns out that most of the carcinogens in smoke are fat soluble, so when we make a water-based solution, like liquid smoke, we capture the smoke flavor compounds without capturing most of the smoke cancer compounds.” you can read more about it here on Nutritionfacts.org (my number one source for all nutrition info). Hope that helps!
Had these today and we both loved them! So simple, yet so satisfying – omnivore hubby said “I honestly don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything with these!”
We used smoked paprika instead of liquid smoke. Love that they a) can be made in advance and b) don’t require absurd amounts of oil! Can’t wait to have the leftovers for lunch tomorrow :).
Yay!! So happy you are enjoying so many recipes, Yulca 🙂
These have been on my “to-do” list for a while. I finally tried them last night and I never realized I could make such a mess grating apple, lol. I think I need to squeeze out even more juice or add a little more oatmeal because they were a little bit fragile but, who cares? they were delish. I will make them again and again. The only thing I changed was I cut the smoke in half because although I like the flavour, I find bottled smoke a little overwhelming. My daughter and son in law joined me for supper and they both thought they were really good. Thanks, Sam. Another item for my growing vegan menu! You rock!
Yay! So happy you enjoyed them so much! Haha, I always find grating apple directly into a bowl is the safest, or if you have a food processor with a grater attachment that works beautifully as well. You’re most welcome, I’m so happy you liked them!
I love these so much, they were so easy and so delicious – I’m going to make a big batch and fridge or freeze some of em so I have patties ready to go!
Some of mine didn’t stay together well last time, but I’m pretty sure that’s only because I didn’t cut the onions small enough.
Thanks for the yummy recipe!
So happy you loved them Angelea! Yeah, they can be a bit fussy to stick together, but if you chop things into small pieces that should help. 🙂
NOM Can’t wait to try these!
Just a little note in case people don’t know: choosing parsley or cilantro, or the red onion or the white onion, will effect the flavor greatly.
Also, I think these would be awesome with a little ground pistachio
Ooo ground pistachio, that sounds like a cool idea! Thanks LaTalullah.
I’m not a vegetarian, but I play one on TV. No, actually I have flexatarian and vegan friends that I’d like to cook for on occasion. Since I’m pastad out and we made a deal with a local farmer to pay in advance for weekly veggies and I need other ways, creative ways, to use what he brings us (I don’t like waste). So I decided veggie burgers! I hear they are much, much better than store bought stuff. Then it occurred to me. Come Spring we will be able to use my cool, new, fire engine red, electric smoker that Santa brought me for Christmas. What do you think, could I put these babies in my smoker and kick some bbq butt?
Hi Kelly,
Homemade veggie burgers shouldn’t even be compared to the store bought ones! The store bought ones are fine… but I really see them more as something to hold all my condiments. When you make veggie burgers from scratch you can create all sorts of wonderful flavours and textures. I have never tried putting veggies burgers in a smoker, as I don’t have one (jealous!), but that sounds super yummy! My guess is that it might dry them out a little, so I would maybe brush them with a bit of BBQ sauce if they appear to do that. Also, you could skip the liquid smoke as I am sure they would get a ton of delicious smoke flavour from the smoker. Let us know how they turn out! Enjoy!!
I’ll be sure to tell you how it goes. I can even make my own bbq sauce! I can’t wait to taste these babies!
Yay! If you are too impatient, you can just make them the baked way first, and then you might have a better idea of how they will handle a smoker 😉
What can be substituted for the oatmeal. I am allergic to all grains but corn and rice.
I haven’t tried it myself, but cooked rice might work well. Let us know if you try it and how it works!
Such a great recipe!!!! We served this with tomatillo chutney on whole wheat buns – SO fantastic. Thanks for sharing this deliciousness with us!
Oh I love tomatillos! That sounds delish. Im really glad you enjoyed it Kerry. Thanks for coming back and leaving your review!
This sounds like a great variation on the typical veggie burger! Perfect for Fall!
With fall quickly approaching and apple season around the corner, these sound perfect! Just found your blog via Pinterest, and now I can’t stop pinning!
I’m really impressed with how simple the recipes are. I love how I won’t have to go to the health food store to find some rare Himalayan, winter-blooming, delicate, expensive ingredient I’d probably ruin when I walk away from the stove to retrieve the dog’s toy from under the couch. Thanks for keeping it uncomplicated!
Hi Laura!
Thank you so much! Yesssss apple season! I want to go apple picking soon! Apple crumble, apple sauce, apple chips, apple everything!
So glad you like my recipes! My goal is to show the world how easy and delicious vegan food is. There is a place for it on everyone’s table! People tend to think of vegan food as this weird alien food, but it’s just food…. Delicious food!!! While fancy ingredients are fun I hate going out of my way to expensive stores, just to cook dinner, and you really don’t have too! Thank you for loving my blog. I put all my heart and soul into it so it totally makes my day when it is loved right back 🙂
Made them this week – they were wonderful! Even my meat-eating husband liked them. These will be in my rotation, can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
Oh yay! So happy you liked them so much! Thanks so much for coming back and sharing your review. I know it helps people who are considering making the recipes 🙂
I can’t wait to try these! I’m going to the store today and definitely picking up the missing ingredients! It’s been a while since I’ve made good homemade veggie burgers!
Oh homemade veggie burgers are the best! The store bought ones don’t have anything against these. Let us know how they turn out for you. 🙂
This is officially my new favorite burger recipe, and posted it on FB as such. Thank you!
Aww wow! Thank YOU Jess! You totally made my day 🙂
Yum!! I love the idea of smoked apple in a veggie burger. I bet a chopped up chipotle in adobo would be badass, too. Did you just do a little blog redesign, or am I just used to seeing your blog on my phone?
Thank you Cheryl! Yes, I would totally be into adding chipotle or adobo! It might change the texture a bit if you add too much liquid so just go easy, or add some more oats.
I did redesign the blog! Thanks for noticing. I did it about a month ago, but I am always nit picking and trying to make things easier to navigate and more fun to look at 🙂
Hi, you’re an angel! I have been seeking and seeking for a dish that I can use apple pulp. My daughter is crazy about raw juicing and each time i see those apple pulp in the bin i can almost cry. I have tried to make them into patties, dehydrate them, but always a failure. I will make these and come back to tell you how it goes. Thank you my dear .
That’s a great idea Cecille!! I hope it works for you. Please do let us know 🙂