Veggie burgers and hot dogs go mainstream

July 8, 1:42 PMSeattle Vegan ExaminerVirginia Messina, MPH, RD

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Faux meats make vegan grilling easy

How popular are veggie burgers and franks? Well, even the American Dietetic Association has taken a break from its love affair with animal foods to talk about meat analogues on the group’s website.

The ADA just published a chart comparing meatless burgers and hotdogs to their animal-based counterparts. There weren’t too many surprises here. The vegetarian options had less fat and a lot less saturated fat than beef- and turkey-derived offerings. They typically contained some fiber, too. (Animal products never have fiber.)

On the down side, the meatless choices were usually higher in sodium and they also contained ingredients that might be allergens for some people. But unlike omnivores who might eat meat three times a day, most vegans use meat analogues much more sparingly. It’s easy enough to keep sodium levels in check by using meat substitutes as an occasional part of a diet based mostly on whole plant foods.

The ADA didn’t talk about ethical eating—that’s definitely not part of their agenda. But, the true advantage of faux burgers, hot dogs, and sausages is that they can help simplify and ease the transition to a humane vegan diet. That’s an advantage that can’t be quantified on a chart.

Here is the ADA’s comparison of meat analogues.

And if you prefer to make your own burgers, try these fun tofu corn puffs. More croquette than burger, these can be sautéed in a pan, baked or cooked on the grill using a grilling basket. They are light and fluffy with an indescribably rich flavor. 

Tofu Corn Puffs

½ cup cashews
½ cup water
½ pound soft or medium tofu (not silken)
½ cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 cups defrosted frozen corn (or fresh lightly cooked kernels if you feel ambitious)
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp dried
2 cups fresh bread crumbs (not dried)
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the cashews and water into a food processor and blend until completely pureed. Add the tofu and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the remaining ingredients. Form into patties and cook until brown on the stovetop in a well-oiled pan or on the grill using a grilling basket.