When you’re on a diet, you quickly start craving delicious indulgences from McDonald’s an In-N-Out Burger, but know that a hamburger or double cheeseburger will ruin your diet. To make matters worse, if you have been dieting for anything length of time, the grease and animal fats will probably make you queasy.
If you’re craving a hamburger and want to be able to enjoy the taste without the guilt and the stomachache, a meatless version can be a great option. In the quest for the perfect veggie burger, you will probably be disappointed to realize that most of them are downright nasty.
Here’s where an oatmeal burger comes in. While it may sound just as disgusting as its veggie counterparts, oatmeal burgers offer a much better texture and they take on the taste of whatever you season them with. In the recipe below, Feel Rich has simplified the seasonings and the cost by using an all-in-one spice, but feel free to get creative and add whatever spices you would have typically added to your beef.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients:
· 1 tbsp granulated onion
· 1 teaspoon sage or savory
· 1 teaspoon hamburger or steak seasoning
· 2 cups of dry oatmeal
· ½ cup of dry whole wheat bread crumbs (can be substituted with plain bread crumbs)
· 1 cup pecans, chopped or ground
· 1 ½ cups of unflavored almond milk
Optional:
1 cup of almond mozzarella cheese, grated
Making the Patties:
1. Combine all of the ingredients.
2. Let the mixture stand for about five minutes, or until the dry ingredients have absorbed the almond milk. Unlike a normal hamburger, it is safe to taste the mixture and see if you are missing any seasonings until you create the proper balance. If the mixture is too runny, add a handful of oats; if it is too stiff, add more almond milk.
3. Form hamburger shaped patties.
4. Leave out what you intend to eat and freeze the extra patties for later.
Cooking the burger:
1. Heat in the microwave for about 45 seconds.
2. Add a slice of almond mozzarella, cheddar, or pepperjack to the top and put back in microwave for 20 seconds.
3. Put the hamburger in with your bun for a final 20 seconds.
This is a great recipe because you can personalize it with your own toppings that you would usually include with a cheeseburger, make it into a double, and pair it with your favorite non-dairy cheese. While it may not be completely calorie-free, it is a great way to satisfy your burger craving without spoiling your diet or spoiling your cheat with a grease stomachache or guilt. To make it even better, it takes about the same amount of time as sitting in the drive-thru!
Ary Nunez 
Eduard Checo 
Terry Williams 
Milton Harris