The idea of a soy burger shouldn’t scare anyone, you can make a “burger” out of just about anything. The days are gone when soy burgers meant “earthy crunchy” and had no taste. Today, soy burgers are appreciated by not only vegans and vegetarians, but by those who love food, may want to cut down on their meat intake, are concerned about the type of food they eat or for environmental reasons. They cook the same way as a beef burger. You can fry, bake, saute or grill soy burgers. You can eat it plain, put it on a bun, make it a cheeseburger, or make a patty melt. The fixings can be as traditional or as exotic as you want. There are a lot of different brands out there. Let’s make some sense of them.
The mainstream soy burgers in your grocer’s freezer include BOCA Burger, Amy’s and Morningstar Farms. Gardenburger is not included in this as their burgers are vegetable based, not soy based. Among the soy burgers many things have to be taken into consideration before you buy. Are you a purist? Do you want extra flavor? Do you want something resembling beef? There are different flavors to consider as well. The BOCA Burger company offers a wide selection answering to any of these questions. They have their All American Flame Grilled, the Original Vegan, the Original, the Grilled Vegetable, the Cheeseburger and two organic options which are the Vegan and the All American Classic. Those looking for a taste sensation should try the Original Vegan if you are just starting out. This soy burger is as close to a beef hamburger patty for both taste and texture. It’s high in protein and low in fat. You do need to season it just like you would any other meal before cooking.
Amy’s offers a very nice selection of flavorful soy burgers including the All American Veggie Burger, the Bistro Burger, the Quarter Pound Veggie Burger and the Texas Veggie Burger. The Texas Burger has to be the best choice from Amy’s. It’s has a nice meaty texture, a hint of barbecue flavor and is certified Kosher. It’s great for vegans because there is no dairy. It is sensational on the grill and just add a few grilled onions on top and you’ll be set!
The next soy based burgers have been a bit controversy surrounding them. Morningstar Farms, who is owned by Kellogg’s, reported that they no longer used genetically modified food products. Since they stated this fact, there have been numerous time where products have been tested and they found it not to be true. The did have genetically modified ingredients in the products. If you are eating soy burgers to save the environment and you are concerned where you food comes from, you may want to stay away from Morningstar Farms. That said. Everyone has to use their own judgment when they eat. They also have lots of ingredients that are unpronounceable. Just do yourself a favor and stay away.
There are a lot of soy burgers on your grocer’s freezer shelves. Many of which are not mentioned here as some are only available in certain regions of the country. Others are simply veggie burgers, which are not soy burgers. Want to give your tastebuds a treat? Go for the BOCA Burgers or Amy’s. Your tastebuds will thank you!
