How You Can Turn A Can Of Lentil Soup Into A Tasty Veggie Burger

The list of awesome veggie burger recipes to make when you're feeling hungry is seemingly neverending. From stuffed mushroom burgers sandwiched between ciabatta rolls on a bed of arugula leaves to flavorful black bean burgers slathered in a creamy sriracha mayo, it turns out that you can transform just about any vegetable into a savory meat-like patty. However, there's one pantry staple you may not have considered when it comes to whipping up the most delicious homemade veggie burger you'll probably ever bite into; a can of lentil soup.

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Not only do the lens-shaped seeds make for a great meaty texture but they're also a nutrient powerhouse ingredient. Just ½ cup of cooked lentils contains 12 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber, per the Cleveland Clinic. The legumes are also low in saturated fat and sodium and are a good source of other vitamins and minerals, such as folate, iron, potassium, and manganese, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

Aside from their nutritional benefits and their lip-smacking flavor, one of the best things about lentil soup burgers is that they're incredibly easy to make and require far fewer ingredients. Just open the can of soup, drain the liquid, and you're ready to get cooking.

Unlike other veggie burger recipes, which usually require a lengthy list of ingredients to make them, a can of lentil soup contains just about everything you need to make a scrumptious patty. Take, for example, Amy's Lentil Soup, which features green lentils, potatoes, and an array of savory spices in addition to a variety of other aromatic veggies like celery, carrots, and onions. You can use any can of lentil soup of your fancy from Progresso's lentil soup to Pacific Foods' vegetable lentil soup so long as you add a binder after you drain the liquid from the can. A binder is crucial for holding the patty together.

To keep things simple, you can opt for an egg, which is one of the more popular binders thanks to its protein content. A bit of seasoned breadcrumbs will also help out. Along with acting as a binder, the breadcrumbs also add more flavor and a bit of a crunchy-crispy texture to your burgers. For those keen on whipping up an eggless patty, you can easily make the burger vegan (so long as your can of soup is vegan-friendly) by forgoing egg in favor of an egg replacer such as a flaxseed meal or chickpea flour. 

Another great benefit of using a can of lentil soup over dried lentils is that you can pull together your meal in a fraction of the time. Put simply, lentil soup burgers are quick and easy. Making patties from dried lentils? Now, that's a different story. 

Although soaking isn't technically required to prepare lentils, doing so for anywhere between two and eight hours is often recommended because it can make lentils easier to digest. Also, soaking may help boost the body's absorption of the minerals in lentils. Then, you have to cook the lentils and let them cool down before blending them up with your other ingredients and forming them into patties.

Needless to say, opting for the canned variety is a much quicker option. For those who want a grease-free burger, you can also speed up your cooking time by making them in an air fryer instead of baking them in the oven. Once they're done cooking, add all of your favorite burger toppings and your lentil soup burger is ready to be enjoyed.