The Best Burger in the U.S…. is a Veggie Burger?
The hamburger is an iconic American staple—a greasy and increasingly fast indulgence most often eaten with a guilty half-grin, if not actual tears, all while cholesterol levels bubble upward with every beefy bite. But burgers don’t have to be a shamefaced indulgence—for your health, for the animals, or for the climate—they can be healthy, and according to GQ, even better tasting without the beef. The magazine just named a veggie burger as the best burger of the year.
According to GQ, Superiority Burger, an East Village spot in Manhattan, takes the um, beef, when it comes to making a mouthwatering burger—made either from beef or no beef. And in this case, it’s no beef. But this ain’t your hippie grandma’s lentil patty with chunks of carrots and parsley hanging out (although seriously, those are pretty darn tasty too even if they don’t look it).
“Maybe the best thing about N.Y.C. chef Brooks Headley’s raved-about Superiority Burger—better even than the nutty patty, the roasted umami-bomb tomato, the fact that no cows were harmed in the creation of this sandwich—is the texture,” writes GQ’s Nick Marino. “The bun squishes. The lettuce crunches. The pickles snap. That patty, made from ingredients Headley won’t divulge and miles beyond whatever your vegan friends use to assault your grill during barbecues, has genuine heft.”
2015 has certainly been a banner year for vegan food, with countless celebrities making the diet shift, and some even starting their own vegan food companies as a result of their improved health after going vegan. Most recently, former New York Times columnist Mark Bittman announced that he was now serving as the chief innovation officer for a vegan startup meal kit delivery service called Purple Carrot.
And the timing couldn’t be better: the World Health Organization recently warned that red meat consumption increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer, which is sure to send a lot more people in search of veggie options that can satisfy meat cravings.
You have to travel to New York City to get a bite of the vegan Superiority Burger, but it’s certainly not the only great-tasting veggie burger out there. Beyond Meat makes a fantastic meaty burger, as does Gardein. And there are plenty of DIY burger recipes too. Here are a few to get you started:
Spiced Green Pea Veggie Burger Recipe with Oats and Spinach
2 Epic Veggie Burger Recipes to Sink Your Teeth Into
Vegan Burger Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato and Lentil Patties
What’s your favorite veggie burger? Let us know in the comments.
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Image via Superiority Burger
