Anyway - Tina, hide your eyes. It's all about the beets today.
This story actually begins last July at RWA in NYC. The restaurant in the Marriott had the most amazing veggie burgers. But they were RED. So red that I thought they had mistakenly brought me a very VERY rare hamburger. The waitress told me it was because of the beets!
I loved this burger so much that I convinced a few friends to wait on line with me another day so we could go back and have it again.
So began my quest to duplicate the beet burger.
I haven't found the exact recipe yet, but I did find this one that was pretty good. It has quinoa as a base.
Beautiful Beet Burgers
The quest for the perfect beet burger continues. Just today, I found this recipe for Basil Beet Burgers. I'll try it out and report back.
So fess up. Have you had a beet burger? Or a veggie burger heavy on beets?
If not, you might want to give this a try. Beets are an incredibly healthy food.
Health benefits of beets.
Ohhhh -- I am totally making these this spring/summer. I have a packet of heirloom beet seeds that I'm going to be planting soon and was wondering what on earth I was going to do with all the produce. Woot. Veggie burgers all summer long! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI figured you would like this, Kav! I'll get some more recipes for you to use with those beets.
DeleteI must admit the beet burger sounds awful to me. lol However, beet CAKE also sounds awful and it's amazing! Our school used to make a chocolate beet cake and all the kids and teachers alike devoured it. I've never been able to duplicate the recipe.
ReplyDeleteWow, Linda. I saw a beet donut recipe and laughed. Maybe I should go back and check it out.
DeleteI actually like beets when they are served like turnips. When they put that pickled stuff on it, it's horrible. Yes. Beets in chocolate recipes are yummy. Beet burgers..I don't think so. I love a good veggie burger though.
ReplyDeleteTina, weren't you with me for that first lunch? I remember dessert. It had no beets. :)
DeleteI love beets! So although I usually steer clear of veggie burgers (I do live in beef country, after all!), I think I can make an exception. :) These would make a great lunch paired with a salad or something similar, wouldn't they?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great idea, Cate!
It's funny, Jan. I read your comment on FB that you would have to call them patties, but to me, patties are only beef.
DeleteWhatever we call them is fine so long as we enjoy.
I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of beets. My family served beets when I was a kid and I think I had an aversion to them as a grownup. That being said, I've had some in the last year that were delicious. And Jolene has been blogging about smoothies, some of which contain beets. So I've been telling myself that I need to explore beets more. Mmmm....your beet burger sounds amazing. And I love the fact that you recreated it. Now you've got me craving beet burgers.
ReplyDeleteJolene's actually going to guest for us at the end of May. Hopefully she'll share some of those wonderful smoothie recipes she's been using.
DeleteBelieve it or not, Mary Cate, I actually like beets. At least the pickled variety. However, I like beef more, so when it comes to burgers, I'm afraid I'll always choose real meat. That's not to say that if you offered me a bite of your beet burger I wouldn't give it a try. So next time I'm in New York... ;)
ReplyDeleteI think pickled beets were the only kind I had growing up, Mindy. A fondness for fresh ones is definitely a taste I developed as an adult.
DeleteOh, wow! I know I would love these! Thanks for sharing! I've printed the recipe. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
DeleteAs Jan asked above, they would be great with a salad or with lots of veggie toppings on a bun.
How did I miss those last summer? Sniff. I love beet burgers but when I have made them it is with golden beets. I love your recipe but we have trouble finding parsnips here. UGH. Thanks for the reminder about veggie burgers. I see more of them in our summer future.
ReplyDeleteI bet golden beets would be wonderful, Julie. You could certainly switch out some other vegetable for the parsnips. Maybe colored carrots. Doesn't really matter with the red beets because everything ends up that color.
ReplyDeleteIt was that crowded hotel restaurant. Tina and I lucked on it very late - after the lunch crowd.
I use to avoid beets, but the health benefits can not be ignored. As an artist the color alone makes me love them. Now I'm on the hunt for more ways to get beets in our diet. Thanks for the recipe. On a side note..I was at a restaurant with my almost grown kids and my oldest offers a veggie burger and than asked if she could add bacon to it. Yes we all stare at her including the waiter. She thought veggie burger just ment they added more vegetables to the burger. We live in the heart of Texas, she had no idea you could make a burger with anything but beef. I'll see if she'll eat these...maybe if their wrapped in bacon. Lol
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've raised her right, Jolene. She would fit right in with my boys.
DeleteThat totally made me laugh, Jolene. I can imagine why she would think that. But bacon does make pretty much everything taste better.
DeleteBeets...I never would have thought of using beets in a burger. I might have to use my family as guinea pigs this summer and try it.
ReplyDeleteI'll be trying out some other recipes, Dana, so check back.
DeleteI love beets! Beets are so stinkin' delicious, that I might be forced to try this, Cate!!!! I bought a big packet of beet seed this year to try them in the veggie field because beets are the new kale!
ReplyDeleteAnd they're so much better than kale! (Whose idea was it to go crazy over kale???? WHO STARTED THAT CRAZY?????)
But beets???? Oh, I can get behind beets, my friend!
Beets and kale - veggie heaven. :)
ReplyDelete