We test out UAE veggie burgers

We taste-tested four veggie burgers in town.

A veggie burger seems like a misfit on the menu of a fast-food joint. This is possibly why it’s nestled between sides, easily ignored. It could be a deceivingly healthy choice thrown in for good measure or a desperate attempt to change the staple diet of vegetarians. Here are some of the green patties we tried out.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen

The Aubergine and Goat Cheese Burger is as massive as the name is long. And like the name, it leaves nothing to wonder. You know exactly what you are digging into, if not spilling most contents on your clothes. The crumbed goat cheese patty is sandwiched between slices of roasted aubergine, sun-dried tomatoes and salad leaves, drizzled with a tangy homemade-style tomato chutney. It was juicy enough to not have to reach out for the lemonade after every bite.

Burger Fuel

When the New Zealand-based food chain discontinued its Combustion Tofu Burger in 2008, protesters took to Facebook to bring it back. It is back, in variations, but nothing is combustible about it. I found it dry and lacking the spice that would have made it palatable. A sunflower seed, chickpea, cumin and coriander patty is topped with lettuce, tomatoes and onion with an aioli and peanut satay sauce to top it.

Burger Bureau

Finally, something to work with. Burger Bureau’s Build-A-Burger was the most pleasing option as you get to decide what goes into the burger. After settling for the whole-wheat bun, I built up starting from the portobello mushroom selection and continued with roasted garlic mayo, cheddar cheese, caramelised onions, sun-dried tomatoes and guacamole on the side. The creation was perfect, albeit too much for one person to stomach. For something more straightforward, the Italian Job is the restaurant’s take on the veggie burger.

Fuddruckers

You’ll probably have a hard time putting this Veggie Burger together if piecing a puzzle is not your thing. The advantage here is that you can stack up on the greens and sauces from the self-service bar after you are served a bean and barley patty on the warm bread. I selected pickles, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, jalapeño and some coleslaw, and topped it with a generous amount of melted cheddar cheese.