Lunchbox Series - Veggie Burger

I’ve tried almost every frozen vegetable burger available in grocery stores here—Morningstar Farms, Boca, Amy’s—but none of them come close to the veggie patty burgers I grew up eating. I’ve also realized that one reason many people who eat hamburgers think veggie burgers are “gross” is probably because, in many cases, they are. Most tend to be dry, hard as a rock, and held together by processed fake meats.

The brands I mentioned above were staples for me when I was in school here, largely because I didn’t have the time to look for alternatives or make my own from scratch. They were often the only meatless option available in college-town fast food joints, so they became my default choice by necessity rather than preference.

Veggie burgers, on the other hand, are a very common feature on Indian fast-food menus and were one of my favorite foods growing up. Naturally, I was looking for that same texture and taste in the frozen section here. Amy’s California Burger came the closest—at least it didn’t have the heavy soy taste the others did—but it failed the lunchbox test. Once the burger cooled, the dryness returned.

I tried making my own veggie burgers, and while that worked well, preparing an entire batch just for lunches felt like a lot of work. So the search for the perfect frozen veggie burger continued—until I found one at Costco. A friend recommended it during a veggie barbecue party at our home, and it was such a hit that it’s been a staple in my refrigerator ever since.

Made with carrots, bell peppers, potatoes, and other vegetables, this burger is best served grilled. It’s manufactured by Don Lee Farms, a company that offers both meat and meat-free products. The best part is that it doesn’t dry out, likely because it’s thinner, uses vegetables as the binding agent, and doesn’t rely on fake meat substitutes.

Nikhil, my seven-year-old food critic, loved it too, so it quickly made its way into his lunchbox. A grilled veggie patty served on a wheat kaiser roll with organic hummus, lettuce, Swiss cheese, onion, and tomato makes for a very wholesome lunchbox staple. Add a banana, some salad greens, and yogurt, and you’ve got a nutritious, well-balanced lunch that actually holds up until lunchtime.