You Just Can’t Beat a Burger

Sometimes, you just want a delicious burger. Loaded up with your favorite toppings, this American classic is a favorite among meat-eaters and plant-eaters alike. In searching for a healthy plant-based burger, some processed options leave much to be desired. There are times when I reach for plant-based meats, but other times I enjoy creating something a bit different. These vegan mushroom lentil burgers are the result of that creative thinking and adaptation of a few different recipes.

I adapted several recipes I found online to create this recipe. Once I’d experimented, I found this to be the most satisfying of the bunch. Nom nom nom–plants!

Lovely Lentils

If you’ve eaten lentils, you probably have images of some kind of soup. But lentils are transcending soup and showing up in a variety of foods, from pastas and breads to chips, crackers, and more. These tiny round legumes are not only versatile, they are healthy and provide a significant source of protein as well.

Lentils come in brown, green, red, yellow, black, and variations in between. Each variety has a slightly different taste and texture. Brown and green lentils hold their shape well and hold up to all kinds of soups, salads, casseroles, and other dishes. Red and yellow lentils tend to disintegrate easier and therefore make excellent thickeners for stews and sauces.

Health Benefits of Lentils

• Lentils contain beneficial polyphenols. Polyphenols protect the body and fight against free-radical damage. These micronutrients are also great for heart health and may even protect against diabetes.
• With 18 grams of protein per 1-cup serving, lentils provide a great source of plant-based protein.
• They also contain significant amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, and folic acid.
• With more than four times as much fiber as raw kale, lentils are loaded with beneficial fiber. Consuming more fiber and nutrients found in a plant-based diet can protect against developing diabetes and may even be a viable means of treatment for diabetics.

How to Add Lentils to Your Diet

Lentils have a mild flavor that picks up seasonings well. Try them in a variety of soups, stews, and salads; mix them into casseroles; or mash them into patties in these Vegan Mushroom Lentil Burgers!

Make it a Meal

No burger is complete without a side of Extra Crispy French Fries or Onion Rings!

Sweet potatoes are so versatile. They lend themselves to many sweet and savory dishes as the main course, a side dish, or an appetizer. These Mexican Sweet Potato Skins work great as a starter and are filling enough to be the main attraction.

Choosing Sweet Potatoes

Most people don’t know the difference between sweet potatoes and yams, and even more people may not realize that there are a wide variety of sweet potatoes.

Yams vs Sweet Potatoes

In the U.S., you will rarely see true yams. Even if they are labeled as yams at the grocer, they are probably still sweet potatoes. This is because copper-skinned sweet potatoes are frequently mistaken for yams.

A true yam belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family and are related to lilies and grasses.  Most of the world’s yams come from Africa and Asia, and they are actually quite hard to find in the US. Yams have a cylindrical shape with bark-like skin and white, purple, or reddish flesh. Their flesh is starchier and drier than sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes belong to the Convolvulaceae family. These are what you typically find in the grocery store, even if the label says yam. Sweet potato skins vary from white, yellow, red, purple, or brown, while the flesh may be white, yellow, or orange.

Yams and sweet potatoes also differ in their nutritional value. Sweet potatoes provide an excellent source of vitamin A, as well as a healthy dose of vitamin C and various B vitamins. Yams also serve up some B and C vitamins, but they lack the hefty dose of vitamin A found in sweet potatoes.

Types of Sweet Potatoes

As I mentioned, there are numerous varieties of sweet potatoes readily available at specialty grocers and farmer’s markets. Some of the most common varieties are hannah, garnet, purple, and jewel.

Hannah sweet potatoes have cream-colored skins and flesh. Compared to other varieties, their flesh is firm and slightly dry.

Garnet sweet potatoes have reddish to dark orange skin and orange flesh. The flesh is sweet, tender, and moist when cooked.

Purple sweet potatoes are more elongated in shape with purplish skin and flesh. They are far less sweet than other varieties and can be on the dry side as well. Unlike other varieties, purple sweet potatoes do provide a good source of vitamin A.

Jewel sweet potatoes have coppery-orange skin, very similar to the garnet variety. Their flesh is deep orange, mildly sweet, and fairly firm.

How to Choose the Right Tuber for Your Recipe

The best way to decide which sweet potato suits your particular recipe is typically to try them out. Because I enjoy all the varieties, I used a combination for this recipe. The result is that each potato skin has a unique flavor profile and everyone can choose their favorite. If your grocer offers several varieties of sweet potatoes, don’t be afraid to mix it up!

Let’s Get Cooking!

Gather all your ingredients before you get started. This makes the cooking process faster and I tend to get distracted less often.

Baked sweet potatoes look good enough to eat as is, but they are about to be dressed to perfection!

Carefully scoop out the potato flesh in order to keep the fragile skins intact.

Load up the toppings! There are no rules here.

Make it a Meal

These Mexican Sweet Potato Skins are the perfect compliment to my BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches! Try these crowd pleasers at your next tailgate or other gathering!

No gathering is complete without appetizers. They set the stage and build the anticipation for a delicious meal. But what about if you don’t eat meat, gluten, or dairy products? Fortunately, there are lots of great vegan options for traditional appetizer recipes. These Buffalo Maitake Mushrooms are sure to be a hit with your guests.

Maitake mushrooms are also called hen of the woods mushrooms. They have a unique leafy, feathery texture and work great in a variety of recipes. They are delicious sautéed, grilled, seared, or added to a sauce. This recipe puts maitakes in center stage as the main course, and they hold up to the buffalo spice well.

Traditional Medicinal Uses of Maitake Mushroom

In addition to being deliciously versatile in cooking, Japanese and other cultures use maitake mushrooms medicinally as well. They contain uniquely-structured polysaccharides, such as beta-glucans, which is an excellent stimulant of the immune system. Studies reveal that these biological response modifiers can be potent antiviral and antitumor agents, not by killing viruses or cancer cells directly, but by stimulating the body’s innate ability to marshal cellular defenses.

Most people will eat these Buffalo Maitake Mushrooms because they are delicious. But it’s nice to know that they are also super healthy as well!

   

Make it a Meal

The Chicken Wing-like mushrooms go along perfectly with Mexican Potato Skins when it’s time for football, fall festivals, or sport nights.