Veggie Grill is a popular fast casual vegan restaurant chain that serves plant-based burgers and other menu items. Many customers wonder what exactly goes into making Veggie Grill’s tasty vegan burgers. This article will provide an in-depth look at the ingredients and preparation process for Veggie Grill’s most popular burger options.
Veggie Grill’s vegan burger options
Veggie Grill offers several types of vegan burgers, including:
- All-American burger – their signature burger made with Veggie Grill’s proprietary veggie protein blend
- Santa Fe burger – topped with guacamole and spicy Santa Fe sauce
- Sunshine burger – with sunflower cheddar cheese and Veggie Grill’s solar roasted veggies
- Zesty burger – with chipotle ranch sauce and jalapeños
- BBQ burger – topped with barbecue sauce, onion rings, and pickled jalapeños
Customers can also build their own custom vegan burger with a choice of veggie patty, cheese, toppings, and sauces.
Base veggie protein for burger patties
The base of all Veggie Grill’s vegan burger patties is their proprietary blend of plant-based proteins. The exact formula is a trade secret, but it likely contains ingredients like:
- Soy protein
- Pea protein
- Brown rice protein
- Potatoes
- Beans
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Nuts like almonds and walnuts
- Seeds like flax seeds and chia seeds
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Carrots
- Celery
- Spices and seasonings
These ingredients are finely chopped and blended together to create a meaty, protein-packed veggie burger patty with no cholesterol and plenty of fiber. The blend likely varies between burger types to give each one its unique flavor profile.
Binders and fillers
In addition to the veggie protein blend, Veggie Grill may use some additional binders and fillers to help hold the burger patties together and add texture:
- Flour – such as chickpea flour or whole wheat flour
- Breadcrumbs
- Egg replacer – likely a vegan product made from ingredients like flax seeds or tapioca
- Vegetable broth or vegetable juice
These ingredients help ensure the burger patties hold their shape on the grill and have an appealing, meat-like texture when cooked. They boost the fiber content and allow the burgers to nicely char on the outside while staying juicy on the inside.
Cheese options
For burgers like the Sunshine Burger and custom burgers with cheese, Veggie Grill uses dairy-free vegan cheese products. Their “cheeses” are likely made from ingredients like:
- Cashews
- Almonds
- Coconut oil
- Nutritional yeast
- Tapioca starch
- Natural flavors and spices
These nut-based cheeses provide creamy texture and cheesy flavor without any animal products. Veggie Grill makes their own proprietary vegan cheeses in-house.
Sauces and toppings
In addition to cheese, Veggie Grill offers a variety of sauces and toppings to customize your vegan burger:
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Vegan mayo
- BBQ sauce
- Santa Fe sauce
- Chipotle ranch
- Guacamole
- Jalapeños
- Onion rings
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Pickles
The sauces are likely made in-house using a combination of vegetables, nuts, spices, and small amounts of oil. The toppings provide great flavor, texture, and nutrition to complement the veggie burger patties.
Buns
To hold all the delicious burger components together, Veggie Grill serves their burgers on vegan buns. These buns are likely made from simple vegan ingredients like:
- All-purpose flour
- Whole wheat flour
- Water
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
Veggie Grill’s buns have a soft, slightly sweet taste that perfectly complements their veggie burgers without overpowering them. They provide the satisfying burger experience many customers crave.
Preparation process
So how does Veggie Grill bring all these ingredients together into crave-worthy vegan burgers? Here is an overview of their likely burger prep process:
- Gather ingredients for veggie protein base, binders, sauces, cheeses, toppings, and buns.
- Mix veggie protein blend ingredients and form into burger patties.
- Grill burger patties until cooked through and nicely charred.
- Toast vegan burger buns.
- Slice cheeses, tomatoes, onion rings, pickles, etc.
- Assemble burgers by layering sauces, patties, cheese, toppings, and bun.
- Serve burgers hot off the grill alongside fries, tater tots, or a fresh salad.
Veggie Grill likely pre-prepares many ingredients ahead of time for consistent flavor and quick assembly. Their passionate chefs take pride in crafting insanely flavorful burgers made from plant-based, wholesome ingredients.
Nutrition facts
So what’s the nutritional value of Veggie Grill’s tasty vegan burgers? Here is an overview of the nutrition facts for a typical Veggie Grill vegan burger:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 450-600 |
| Total Fat | 15-25g |
| Saturated Fat | 3-5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 400-600mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 45-55g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5-10g |
| Sugars | 5-10g |
| Protein | 15-20g |
As you can see, Veggie Grill burgers provide a good amount of protein and fiber, while being low in saturated fat and containing no cholesterol. The exact totals vary based on burger type, toppings, cheese, and sauces. Customize your burger with veggies to boost nutrition even further!
Food allergy information
When preparing plant-based burgers, Veggie Grill takes steps to avoid common food allergens and sensitivities:
- Gluten – Burgers are prepared without wheat, barley, or rye. Burger buns may contain gluten.
- Soy – Burgers contain soy protein but can be requested without it.
- Dairy – All menu items are 100% vegan and dairy-free.
- Nuts – Some burgers contain nuts like cashews, almonds, and walnuts. See allergen information for each burger.
- Eggs – Burgers contain no eggs, but an egg replacer may be used in patty binders.
Guests with food allergies should inform their server so all accommodations can be made. Veggie Grill is proud to offer burgers and menu items that most people can enjoy.
Environmental impact
In addition to providing healthy and allergy-friendly fare, Veggie Grill aims to reduce environmental impact with their vegan menu. Here are some of the sustainability benefits of their plant-based burgers:
- Reduce carbon emissions by opting for plant proteins over beef.
- Conserve water used for animal agriculture.
- Support sustainable farming practices for plant foods.
- Minimize waste by using creatively recycled ingredients.
- Source organic, non-GMO ingredients when possible.
- Use eco-friendly packaging and serveware.
Veggie Grill also partners with environmental non-profits and donates a % of profits to charity. Overall, the chain makes an effort to serve food that’s not only good for people but also the planet.
Conclusion
Veggie Grill’s delicious vegan burgers satisfy cravings while nourishing the body and sustaining the environment. By blending plant-based proteins with whole food ingredients, they serve up juicy, flavor-packed patties layered with sauces, cheeses, and toppings in between a tasty vegan bun. While the exact recipes are secret, their chefs creatively combine vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains to mimic the indulgent taste of traditional burgers. With a variety of options to customize your meal, Veggie Grill provides a satisfying vegan burger experience that even meat-eaters can enjoy. Next time you’re craving a burger, skip the beef and grab a plant-based patty at Veggie Grill!
