Garlic Mushroom Burgers

Get ready for some tasty and healthy burgers raw vegan style!

Eating healthy and delicious food needs not be difficult. You can always find a way to replace your favorite unhealthy dishes into nutritious, finger-licking ones. We all have a craving to bite into something big, juicy, and addictive now and then. One of America’s all-time favorites is burgers, and that’s the same reason obesity and other diseases are skyrocketing. Studies have shown that most of our cravings or “comfort foods” are related to childhood, and the smell and taste of the particular dish that reminds us of a certain moment.

For example: the smell of cardamom takes me all the way back to my childhood and reminds me of rainy days and the yummy chai made in my grandmother’s place. We are wired in particular ways, and every aura and vision can remind us of different incidents or feelings that can bring us comfort. Another example: your favorite dish could be a burger because your dad got it for you, or you and your friends visited a burger joint and created some unforgettable memories. Everything is linked. You needn’t tear down your memory lane, but simply trick your brain into comprehending the same taste and smell while changing the ingredients of the dish. So here it is, a mushroom burger for all those burger fans!

Biting into a big, juicy burger with yummy sauce always sounds tempting. This is a raw version of the typical burger with no gluten and no chemicals. Mushrooms tossed in powerful garlic and onion hold the creamy patty together. This dish is high in iron, potassium, vitamin C, omega fatty acids, and essential phytonutrients. This majestic mushroom burger is like a gentle giant in your tummy.

Garlic Mushroom Burgers

What do you need?

Filling:

• 1 cup cashews, soaked
• 1 cup spinach, minced
• 3/4 cup seaweed, dried
• 3/4 cup red onion, minced
• 3/4 cup sun-dried tomato powder
• 1 tablespoon cranberries, dried
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

Bread:

• 2 portobello mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons tamari
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

Add-Ons:

• Avocado, cashew cheese, hot sauce

What do you do?

To make the bread, soak all ingredients in a large glass pan for 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure both sides of the mushrooms are dipped well. Place the marinated mushrooms on a dehydrator tray and allow them to warm at 115°F for about 40 minutes. To make the filling, blend all filling ingredients in a food processor using the S blade until sticky and crumbly. Using your hands, form the filling into small patties.

Place the patty between the dehydrated mushrooms and press gently. You could add some avocado, cashew cheese or a hot sauce to take it up a notch. Now enjoy your garlic mushroom burger!

From the book – Foods Alive (108 raw vegan recipes) by Smriti Kirubanandan

Make some fries to go with your burger!