When it comes to creating a veggie burger that packs as much flavor as it does ingredients, few chefs can match the intensity of Guy Fieri. Known for his love of meat-laden dishes, Fieri has also quietly become a master of vegetarian cooking, largely inspired by his late sister, Morgan, who was a vegetarian.
Food Network
Over the years, one of his standout creations is a veggie burger that calls for a staggering 21 ingredients, a tribute to his sister and a demonstration of his creativity.
While you can easily buy a packaged veggie burger that will be just okay, Fieri’s version is as over the top as his bold personality. Ready to go to Flavortown?
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The story behind the burger
Fieri’s journey into vegetarian cuisine was deeply personal. His sister Morgan, who passed away in 2011 after a long battle with cancer, was a vegetarian and sometimes a vegan.
During her final year, she challenged Fieri to go beyond basic grilled vegetables and create more substantial and satisfying vegetarian meals. This challenge led him to develop a veggie burger, which he debuted on his show Guy’s Big Bite, that is as rich in flavor as any meat-based counterpart, but without relying on animal products.
Food Network
On the show, Fieri’s sister and mother accompanied him while he prepared the patties. When Fieri asked Morgan how to make veggie burgers less “boring,” she replied, “They need spice, they need moisture … It’s gotta be homemade.”
As the Food Network chef began combining all of the 21 ingredients, explaining to his family why he chose to include so many components, he turned to his sister and said: “What an inspiration you are.”
Since her passing, Morgan’s influence on Fieri’s culinary approach has been profound. She inspired him to push the boundaries of plant-based cooking and Fieri has explored meatless cuisine ever since, taking his Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives show to plant-based eateries, serving vegan fare at Stagecoach Festival, and making sure plant-based eaters were happy during his Super Bowl pre-party in Las Vegas last year.
The Morgan Burger, as Fieri called it, is the ultimate homage to his inspiring younger sister.
The 21-ingredient burger
The original recipe for Fieri’s veggie burger features 21 ingredients with a mixture of vegetables, grains, spices, and herbs. Let’s break it down into digestible parts.
Food Network
1Vegetables
Vegetables form the heart of Fieri’s burger, adding a variety of flavors and textures. He includes diced red onion, black olives, red bell peppers, jalapeño, garlic, and artichoke, which are sautéed in olive oil to bring out their natural sweetness and depth.
Fieri emphasized the importance of properly sweating the vegetables, starting with onions and adding garlic only at the end to avoid burning. This technique enhances the flavor and adds a crucial layer to the burger’s taste.
2Legumes and beans
Beans and legumes play a significant role in giving the burger its hearty, protein-rich base. Fieri uses a mix of black beans, chickpeas, and white beans, all drained to prevent excess moisture. These are mashed together with the sautéed vegetables to create a robust patty.
Fieri once noted that most veggie patties tend to be mushy, which is why he avoids breaking the beans down too much when combining the ingredients.
3Grains and binders
These ingredients are crucial for holding the patties together and ensuring they cook well. Fieri opts for rolled oats and seasoned bread crumbs to provide structure and absorb any excess moisture.
An egg typically serves as a binder, but for a completely vegan option, Fieri recommends using a flax egg, an egg alternative made with flax seeds that are soaked in water until they form a gel.
He also shared tips for adjusting the mixture’s texture, suggesting panko crumbs for a mixture that’s too wet or adding a bit of vegetable stock if it’s too dry.
4Spices and herbs
To bring Fieri’s signature “Flavortown” flair to the burger, he uses a complex mix of herbs and spices. The recipe calls for Hungarian paprika, chili powder, red chili flakes, celery salt, minced fresh parsley, ground sage, ground cumin, and dried oregano.
Fieri advises mixing spices together and grinding them to ensure even distribution and maximum flavor impact. He also stresses the importance of using fresh spices to avoid dull flavors.
Morgan Fieri’s veggie burger legacy
In 2021, Fieri demonstrated his famed veggie burger recipe live on stage at the 38th Annual Food & Wine Festival in Aspen, CO. He shared that at home, his family doesn’t always eat meat, setting the stage for his complex and flavor-packed veggie burger.
To take the burger up a notch, Fieri suggested starting with the classic “LTOP” (lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and pickles), then adding fried onions for an extra crunch, a vegan version of his signature Donkey Sauce for a punch of flavor, and a cashew-based cheese sauce that he makes with plenty of nutritional yeast.
Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen
He also created a version of this burger for his delivery-only restaurant, Seattle-based Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen, which briefly operated in 2021.
Since sharing his recipe more than a decade ago, Fieri’s veggie burger has been replicated by many and continues to be a source of inspiration for those looking to explore meatless cooking.
Notably, Camila Alves McConaughey has praised Fieri’s veggie burger and even tried her hand at making it. McConaughey, who often shares her culinary experiences through her platform Women of Today, was drawn to the complexity of the recipe and appreciated how it came together despite the extensive list of ingredients.
She noted that refrigerating the patties is key to maintaining their shape and added her own twist by topping them with spicy pickles.
It is clear that years later, Morgan’s request for Fieri to make her “real meals” lives on in the legacy of the complex, yet satisfying, Morgan Burger.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
