This Walnut Mushroom Smash Burger is thick and hearty. Its texture is similar to a regular burger, but it has a nutty, smokey, and savory flavor from the walnuts, mushrooms, onions, and seasoning. These smash burgers are a healthy alternative to meat based or vegan alternative options, and they are perfect for game day or to bring to a BBQ.
Maybe I’ve been a vegan for way too long, but these Walnut Mushroom Smash Burgers look and feel like the real deal, but its 100% whole foods plant-based and homemade with love!
These beauties are made primarily with just walnuts, mushrooms, and oats. I just went with some basic seasonings for this recipe, but I think it could be very adaptable and other seasonings could be mixed with any number of toppings for endless combinations of flavors!
The final mixture gets smashed down on the pan for fast cooking times and a perfectly crisp exterior.
The best part? This burger is packed with wholesome ingredients but feels incredibly decadent and satisfying! Unlike a traditional cheeseburger, it’s high in fiber and healthy fats, loaded with veggies (if you pile on the toppings!), and heart-healthy thanks to the oats.
How to the Make Walnut Mushroom Smash Burger
First, process the oats into a course oat flour using a food processor and set aside. This will help bind the burgers together.
Then, combine the walnuts, mushrooms, onions, and garlic together in the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Don’t over process; you want some texture to the burgers.
Cook this mixture for about 5 minutes in a pan until most of the water has evaporated and it starts to brown.
Mix in the spices, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke and chill the mixture in the fridge for 1 hour.
While waiting for the mixture to chill. Sautee the mushrooms and onions, prep the toppings, and clean up the kitchen.
Now divide the walnut mixture into four equal parts and roll each part into a ball. Add the ball to the hot pan with a small amount of oil. Cover it with a piece of parchment paper and smash it down until it becomes flat, but still retaining its form.
Cook on the first side for 2 minutes or until it starts to get crispy. Flip the burger, add a slice of cheese on top and cook for about 30 seconds. Add a tablespoon of water to the edge of the pan (away from the burgers) and cover immediately to trap in the steam. This will help melt the cheese and keep the burgers moist. Cook for another 1 – 2 minutes.
Assemble the burger with 1 or 2 patties and your toppings. Serve with fries or a salad for the perfect meal!
Ingredients in the Walnut Mushroom Smash Burger
- Flax egg: A flax egg is a mixture of flax meal and water. When flax meal mixes with water, it absorbs the water and forms a gel like texture that works well to bind the mixture together.
- Oats: The oats are also used to help the mixture bind together and is a great source of heart-healthy fiber.
- Walnuts: These provide a rich, buttery flavor and meaty texture to the burgers. They are an excellent source of healthy fats, proteins and antioxidants.
- Button mushrooms: Contribute a savory, earthy flavor (umami) and a satisfyingly chewy texture. They are low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals that are great for your brain.
- White onion and garlic: Add a savory depth and aromatic notes.
- Spices: Basic spices including smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper create a well-rounded flavor profile
- Soy sauce: Provides a touch of umami and saltiness. You can swap with tamari for gluten free or with liquid aminos.
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce: Contribute additional layers of savory depth and smoky notes. Make sure you get a vegan one, many contain anchovies.
- Liquid smoke: Add a touch of smokiness for a right-off-the-grill flavor.
What You'll Love About the Walnut Mushroom Smash Burger
Flavor and texture: The combination of walnuts, mushrooms, and caramelized onions offers a rich, savory, and umami-packed flavor that’s incredibly satisfying.
Health benefits: They’re packed with wholesome, plant-based ingredients, making them a nutritious alternative to traditional beef burgers. The burgers are high in fiber, healthy fats, and protein, contributing to a feeling of fullness and satisfaction.
Ease and versatility: The recipe is relatively simple to follow and doesn’t require any complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients. The basic seasonings provide a solid foundation for flavor, but the recipe is easily adaptable to different spice combinations and toppings, allowing for endless customization.
Great substitute: Whether you are looking to reduce your meat consumption or you’re trying to reduce your consumption of plant-based alternative burgers, this is the burger for you. It has a meaty look and texture and is very filling and satisfying. Its perfect for game day or a BBQ.
Walnut Mushroom Smash Burger
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp flax meal
- 2.5 tbsp water
- 1 cup oats processed into coarse flour
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup mushrooms
- ½ white onion coarsely chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce make sure its vegan
- ¼ tsp liquid smoke
Sauteed mushrooms and onions
- ½ white onion sliced thin
- 1 cup mushrooms
- 1 tbsp vegan butter or oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings
- vegan cheese
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- avocados
- vegan mayo
Instructions
- Make the flax egg by combining the flax meal and water, set aside.
- Process the oat in the food processor to make oat flour, set aside.
- Combine the walnuts, mushrooms, onions, and garlic in the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the mushroom mixture to the pan and cook until most of the water has evaporated and the mixture is browned, about 4 minutes.
- Put the mixture in a mixing bowl and let cool for a couple of minutes.
- Combine the the walnut mixture, the oat flour and the flax egg together. Fold in the spices, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke. Place this in the fridge to chill for 1 hour.
- While the walnut mixture is chilling, sauté the mushrooms and onions for the toppings. Add the vegan butter to a non-stick pan over medium heat, add the mushrooms and onions, a pinch of salt and some pepper. Saute for about 10 minutes or until the onions are caramelized and starting to burn slightly.
- You can also prep the other toppings and clean the work area while the mixture is chilling.
- Once the mixture is chilled, divide it into four equal parts, and roll them into balls.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat, add a small amount of oil and one or two of the balls. Cover it with a piece of parchment paper and press it flat with a spatula (see the pictures above if you need a visual). Remove the parchment paper and cook for about 2 minutes and flip.
- Add a piece of the vegan cheese to the top and cook for about 30 seconds. Then add a tbsp of water to the side of the pan, away from the burgers, and immediately cover the pan to trap the seam and help the cheese melt. Keep covered for 1 - 2 minutes and then remove from heat.
- Assemble 2 (1 is okay too) of the smash burger patties on hamburger buns with lettuce, tomatoes, vegan mayo, avocado and the sauteed onions and mushrooms.
Did you try this recipe?
If you made this Walnut and Mushroom Smash Burger recipe, I would really appreciate it if you could comment and leave a rating below. You can also share a photo and tag me on Instagram @thesunshinevegankitchen. I would love to hear all about your experience. Thank you so much!
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