Burgers are synonymous with summer. Toss a tofu burger or seitan burger on the grill, and you’ve got the perfect vegetarian dinner. So when one of our readers said they make veggie burgers from rutabaga, I was intrigued! Rutabaga is a root vegetable, somewhere between a potato and a turnip. This starchy texture is perfect for slicing large slabs that can be grilled. But, first, you have to do some cooking to soften them. But that’s easy, and we’ll go through exactly how to do it in this post!
the ultimate Veggie burger
One ingredient is all you need (no, I don’t count butter and salt because they are actually optional if you’re in a real pinch). Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free! Make them in advance by steaming a large batch to keep in the fridge for grilling all week. The mild flavor lends itself well to a variety of toppings. Anything from lettuce and tomato to guacamole and caramelized onions would be good!
here’s what you’ll need
Of course, you need rutabaga, but I’ve also included some topping ideas that are extra yummy!
Rutabaga: I recommend peeling this and then cutting it into 3/4-inch slabs. It’s not always available in stores by the potatoes, but I always see it in the late summer and fall at farmers’ markets. Butter and Salt: These help to add a bit of moisture and richness to this starchy vegetable. For Serving: All the burger staples like lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, buns, and condiments are delicious! You can also branch out with some toppings like healthy guacamole or vegan yumm sauce.
let’s make rutabaga burgers!
These burgers require no mixing or chilling but you do need to precook them. Here’s how to make them.
Why this Recipe Works
Huge shoutout to our reader for testing this recipe so many times! Here’s what we’ve learned and why it works.
Steaming rutabaga first primes it to be grilled (but it’s not steamed too much that it falls apart on the grill). Brush it with butter for grilling to prevent it from sticking to the grill. Just one piece of rutabaga works great, so there’s no need to blend it with other ingredients to make patties. It’s perfect as is!
burger and fries, please!
I crave fries anytime I have a burger. It’s as classic a pairing as milk and cookies! Here are three of my favorite fries.
Crispy Truffle Fries are my absolute favorite and easy to whip up while the rutabaga steams. Jicama Fries are seasoned with classic fry seasoning making them a little smokey and nice and salty, with a little kick. Air Fryer Carrot Fries utilize a more common root vegetable to turn it into something uber fun and delicious!
