veggie burger recipes

Be wary of tofu-based burgers, which could contain hexane or excess salt. Make 'em fresh with some beans, mushrooms, and whole grains instead.

These curry burgers will spice up a bland holiday cookout.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—If slimy slabs of tofu come to mind when you hear the term "veggie burger," you've never had a truly gourmet version. This Labor Day, why not pass by the ground beef and reach for some fresh local portobello mushrooms (mushroom season is just getting underway in many areas of the country), or a pod of summer black beans, and try one of these great meatless burger recipes? You'll find plenty of savory, satisfying flavor—no tofu allowed.

That could be a good thing, too, as a recent study suggests that tofu may be no healthy alternative to red meat. The nonprofit Cornucopia Institute, which supports small family farms, analyzed a variety of nonorganic veggie burgers and found that many contained hexane, a carcinogenic and neurotoxic chemical used in food processing. Certified-organic veggie burgers, however, cannot be made with hexane. However, any processed veggie burger is likely to contain high levels of sodium.

All the veggie burger recipes below feature fresh, unprocessed ingredients, such as mushrooms, beans, and lentils, and can be grilled up alongside, or (hopefully) instead of, their meaty counterparts. Be sure to serve them up with some tasty sides, like this recipe for Creamed Summer Corn with Asparagus, Fire-Roasted Fruit Salad, or any of these other meatless Labor Day recipes. And don’t forget your own homemade ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, and other condiments.

#1: Stuffed Portobello Burgers with Caramelized Onions. Portobello mushrooms make great alternatives to beef, since they're thick, meaty, and really tasty. Serve them up with shoestring fries, or if you have guests with more sophisticated palates coming over, try this recipe for Portobello and Roasted Red Pepper Burgers with Pesto.