Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

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Lentil Burgers- Dried green lentils are cooked and mixed with a combination of flax egg, carrots, onions, and flavorful spices. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Form handmade patties and pan-fry with coconut oil. Lentil burgers are perfect for summer barbeques, outdoor parties, or busy weeknights.

Veggie burgers are becoming more and more popular these days as people look for healthier alternatives to traditional meat burgers. There are many reasons why someone might choose to eat a veggie burger instead of a meat burger. For one, meatless burgers are usually lower in calories and fat than meat burgers. They also tend to be higher in fiber and nutrients, making them a more nutritious option. Additionally, meatless burgers are better for the environment because they require less land and water to produce. As more people become conscious of their food choices impact on the planet, veggie burgers are likely to become even more popular.

These spicy green lentil burgers are my favorite veggie burgers to make! They are packed with delicious flavor, have a great texture, and, best of all, they are easy to make. Lentil patties are pan-fried in coconut oil, making the outside layer nice and crispy. Serve the plant based burgers on buns with your favorite toppings. They're sure to be a hit at your next barbecue!

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love This Lentil Burger Recipe

Perfect For Parties- Lentil burgers are a crowdpleaser. They perfect for summer barbecues or outdoor parties

Healthy and Nutritious- With wholesome ingredients like green lentils, carrots, and onions, lentil burgers are high in fiber and nutrients and low in calories and fat.

Delicious Flavor- These green lentil burgers are packed with flavor thanks to the variety of spices used. They are a little spicy, a little earthy, and very satisfying.

Easy to Make- This veggie burger recipe is easy to follow and can be made in about 40 minutes.

Versatile- Serve on buns with your favorite toppings. You can also enjoy them as a salad topper or side dish without a bun.

Equipment Needed To Make Spicy Green Lentil Burgers

  • Large Saucepot
  • Small Mixing Bowl
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Collander
  • Frying Pan
  • Food Processor
  • Chopping Knife
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients For Lentil Burgers

Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (1)
  • Dried Green Lentils
  • Onion
  • Carrot
  • Rolled Oats
  • Pepitas
  • Flaxseed Meal
  • Bread Crumbs
  • Low-Sodium Tamari
  • Ground Ginger
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Coconut Oil

How To Make Green Lentil Burgers

To make these delicious lentil burgers, you will start by preparing the lentils. Add dried green lentils and water to a saucepot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down the heat and cook for about 20 minutes. Drain the liquid off of the lentil and set them aside for later.

Prepare your flax egg with flaxseed meal and water in a small mixing bowl and set it aside to thicken up.

Add cooked lentils, flax egg, and the remainder of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix well—form patties out of the lentil mixture to match the size buns you are using.

Heat coconut oil in the frying pan and cook until crispy on each side. Once the burgers are done, add them to buns and top with your favorite burger toppings and condiments.

What to Serve/Pair With Lentil Burgers

While these vegan burgers are delicious on their own, they are even better when served with a few sides. Try pairing them with roasted veggies, a simple salad, or sweet potato fries. For a complete meal, serve them alongside roasted potatoes and a side of steamed broccoli.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

This vegan burger recipe is versatile and can easily be customized to fit your needs. Here are a few popular substitutions and additions:

-For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free buns or serve the burgers on a bed of greens.

-Add avocado, tomato, or pickles to the burgers for an extra flavor boost.

-Try using different spices to change up the flavor. Cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder are all great options.

-Add shredded cabbage or coleslaw to the burger mix for a crunchy texture.

-For a cheesy flavor, add vegan cheese to the burger mix or top the cooked burgers with vegan cheese.

-If you don't have flaxseed meal, you can use chia seeds or ground oats.

Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (2)

How To Reheat & Store Homemade Lentil Burgers

What Is The Best Way To Store Lentil Burgers?

Lentil burgers are best stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

How Long Will Spicy Lentil Burgers Last In The Fridge?

These green lentil burgers will last in the fridge for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container.

Can I Freeze Green Lentil Burgers?

Yes, you can freeze these vegan burgers for up to three months. To freeze, place uncooked patties on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet spaced out evenly and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Take the baking sheet out of the freezer and use a spatula to slide off each patty. Place a small piece of waxed paper between each patty for easy removal. Store them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. When ready to eat, thaw the burgers in the fridge overnight and reheat them as desired.

How To Reheat Lentil Burgers?

There are a few different ways you can reheat these vegan burgers. The easiest way is to place them in the microwave and heat for 1-2 minutes or until heated. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. If you're in a hurry, you can even reheat them in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes.

Lentil Burger FAQs

Do I have to use a flax egg?

No, you don't have to use a flax meal egg. If you don't want to use one, you can try using a chia egg or unsweetened plain vegan yogurt.

What kind of lentils should I use?

You can use any lentils you like, but I prefer green ones because they have a delicious nutty flavor and hold their shape well.

My uncooked patties are too moist and won't keep their shape. Is there a way to keep them together better?

Yes! If your patties don't seem to be holding together well, you can slowly add more breadcrumbs to the mixture to thicken it up to help hold the patties together better.

Can I make these burgers ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the burgers ahead of time and store them in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to cook them.

Don't Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How Your Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Turned Out!

📋 Recipe

Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (3)

Spicy Green Lentil Burgers

Ligia Lugo

Dried green lentils cooked and mixed with flax egg, carrots, onions, and flavorful spices are formed into handmade patties and pan-fried to crispy perfection!

4.80 from 29 votes

Print Pin Recipe Save

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Sandwiches

Servings 6 Burgers

Calories 289 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup green lentils dried
  • ½ onion chopped
  • 1 carrot finely chopped in a processor
  • ¾ cups rolled oats
  • ½ cup pepitas you could use sunflower kernels to
  • 1 tablespoon flaxseed Meal and 3 tablespoons water, mimics an egg
  • ¾ cup bread crumbs
  • 4 tablespoons tamari, low sodium
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil for frying the 'burgers'

Instructions

Cook the lentils:

  • Put 2 cups water and 1 cup dried lentils in a large saucepan.

  • Bring to a boil.

  • Turn down the heat and cook for 20 minutes.

  • Drain the liquid off of the lentils.

  • Set the lentils aside.

Now for the rest:

  • Mix the flaxseed meal with the water and set aside so that it can gel a bit.

    Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (4)

  • In a large bowl add the cooked lentils, the flax seed meal mixture and the remainder of the ingredients. Mix well.

    Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (5)

  • Form the patties so that they will fit the shape of the buns that you have.

    Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (6)

  • If the patties seem too moist and won't hold their shape well enough add more breadcrumbs. You can use ¼ cup of panko also.

  • Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan and cook the lentil patties on each side.

    Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (7)

  • Spread your buns with all of your favorite condiments and add lettuce and onion of your choice too.

    Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (8)

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1BurgerCalories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 13gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 658mgPotassium: 467mgFiber: 12gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1790IUVitamin C: 2.6mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 4.2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Spicy Green Lentil Burgers Recipe | Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze uncooked homemade veggie burgers? ›

That's right: The best way to make these vegan (no eggs!), gluten-free (no breadcrumbs!) burgers is in a big batch. Stick them in the freezer, grab them whenever, and cook them straight from frozen. It's just as convenient as serving your favorite store-bought brand, but tastier.

Why do my lentil burgers fall apart? ›

Not using a binder to hold the ingredients together.

A good veggie burger isn't just, well, veggies — it needs a binder, something to hold all the ingredients together and keep the burger intact. Without a binder, your burger might completely crumble and fall apart the second it hits the grill or when you bite into it.

How do you spice up frozen veggie burgers? ›

Slice up some onions and (optional) beets thinly. The onions help to keep the burgers moist and add steam and flavour during cooking. If you don't like onions, try sliced mushrooms. Spices like garlic powder and a good barbecue sauce are also important for that authentic barbecue flavour.

How do you store bean burgers in the freezer? ›

Freezing these bean burgers is pretty simple. You just form the patties and then place them onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Then you cover them with a sheet of plastic wrap and place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. This makes them easier to handle when you're wrapping them up for the freezer.

Can you freeze raw homemade burgers? ›

Place patties in a single layer onto several plastic wrap-lined baking trays; cover loosely with plastic wrap and freeze just until meat is firm (1 to 2 hours). Wrap patties tightly in heavy foil or place them into freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight to cook or cook from frozen.

What is a good binder for veggie burgers? ›

Common binding agents include flax eggs (a mixture of ground flaxseed and water), chia seeds, mashed potatoes, tapioca flour, or even your favorite nut butter. These ingredients help hold everything together and prevent your burger from crumbling.

Why are my lentil patties mushy? ›

Do not cook the lentils prior to making this recipe as this will make the patties too mushy and they won't get firm. Shallot: You can also use some red onion as well.

How do you get lentils to stick together? ›

Breadcrumbs. These add body to the lentil patties and help bind everything together. Regular or panko breadcrumbs both work well in this.

What spices to add to frozen burgers? ›

Seasoning the burgers is important, and all you really need is salt. If you want you can use something different like Montreal steak seasoning or a simple dry rub with garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. For the juiciest grilled burgers and pan-fried burgers using frozen burger patties, just follow along below.

How do you get seasoning to stick to frozen burger patties? ›

Season each side with salt and pepper. Note: allowing just a couple of minutes to thaw will help the seasonings stick.

Should you cook veggie burgers before freezing? ›

I typically will freeze them uncooked.

Can you freeze homemade chickpea burgers? ›

If you want to freeze these burgers, it's best to do them before cooking them. Freeze the patties solid on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Thaw them in the fridge overnight on a flat plate before cooking as per the recipe.

Can plant based burgers be frozen? ›

Can you freeze Beyond Burgers? If products are purchased thawed, we do not recommend refreezing and suggest following the stickered best by date. If the product was purchased frozen, it can be stored in the freezer following the printed best by date.

Can you freeze vegan burgers? ›

Freeze the patties for about 45-60 mins or so. Once the raw patties are frozen, place them in a freezer safe bag. If there are any ice crystals on the burgers, scrape them off first. I use Ziplock BPA-free large freezer bags (with the zipper).

Is it better to freeze homemade burgers before cooking? ›

"I love a juicy, pink, medium-rare burger and find most smash burgers overcooked." Freezing for just a short time prevents the thin patties from cooking through too quickly, ensuring they don't become well-done and rubbery before the crust has time to form.

Is it better to freeze raw or cooked burgers? ›

And in the case of hamburgers, it's typically better to freeze the meat raw than to cook them before freezing. That's because your ground beef can lose moisture as it cooks, which means the burgers may dry out as they're being stored in the freezer.

How long do uncooked veggie burgers last in the fridge? ›

In general, plant-based meat will last in the fridge, unopened for at least a week to 10 days depending on the brand. Some plant-based meat products last longer than others, however all will have a shortened shelf life after they're opened.

How long do homemade veggie burgers last in the freezer? ›

Vegan/egg-free veggie burgers: Use 2 homemade flax eggs. See this recipe for how to make flax eggs. Make ahead: You can keep the burger mixture or formed patties in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Alternatively, you can form, cook, and freeze the patties for up to 3 months.

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