The Mad Vegan Chef’s Royale with Cheese Burger with pickles and tomato

“Mmmm-mmmm…this IS a tasty burger! I can’t usually get ’em, on account of my girlfriend’s a vegetarian…which pretty much makes me a vegetarian, but I do love the taste of a good burger.” – Jules “Pitt” Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), Pulp Fiction

Fast forward to 2016, and everyone’s favorite F-bombing, vegetarian-leaning hit man can finally have his burger, without guilt.

For a tasty, quick, all-plant weekend lunch or dinner, you can’t go far wrong with Vegan Cheeseburgers. These are delicious. Optional to tell anyone they’re vegan – they are just great burgers. The suggested Gardein patties have 130 calories and 15g of protein and just 4.5g fat, none of it saturated. MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY TASTE TERRIFIC!

We like English muffins as burger buns for several reasons – it’s fairly easy to find vegan ones (not usually labeled as such, but made with no dairy or egg ingredients); they’re good grilled; and they don’t fall apart as easily as ordinary buns.

Basic Ingredients (per burger)

1 Gardein Ultimate Beefless Burger patty, frozen, or other favorite vegan burger
1 vegan English muffin, split
Olive oil

Topping suggestions:

MVC’s Royale with Cheese (left photo)

2 slices vegan American-style cheese, such as Follow Your Heart
1 large slice fresh tomato
Sliced pickles
Vegan mayo or our Spicy Mayo Dipping Sauce
Mustard

Mushroom & Onion Burger (right photo)

1 slice Follow Your Heart smoked Gouda-style vegan cheese
3 or 4 slices from a large portobello mushroom, drizzled with a little olive oil
1 oz. sliced raw onions, drizzled with a little olive oil
Spicy Mayo Dipping Sauce
Mustard

…or your favorite burger toppings

Directions

Preheat electric grill or grill pan to surface temperature of 380ºF/195ºC. Do not apply nonstick spray to pan or grill. Lightly brush cut sides of English muffins and both sides of frozen burger patties with olive oil and place on preheated grill.  If making grilled toppings such as mushrooms and onions, put those on the grill also. Grill for about 8 minutes, turning burgers and buns 90 degrees once or twice, and flipping halfway through cooking (unless you use a two-sided grill with the top heating plate closed over the food).  Remove muffins when done to taste, which may be less than 8 minutes.

If using cheese, open grill during final 90 seconds of cooking and place sliced cheese on patties to warm and melt.  Prepare buns with desired toppings, assemble burgers and serve.