Today is Day 18 of the Thug Kitchen Challenge and today I am reviewing the Thug Kitchen Spinach Bean Sliders – found online here. I get so so excited by sliders. I am not sure what it is. It could be that they are miniature. It could be that they are packed with protein and endless with topping ideas. It could be that it’s a burger. Or all three! I really get excited by normally carnivorous food, turned vegan. These burgers looked so good in the photos. I wanted to take it to the test. I am very picky when it comes to vegan burgers, so wanted to make sure it was a worthwhile recipe to share. Well, here is my full review!
At First Glance
This recipe had 12 ingredients, not including buns or toppings. The ingredients were very easy to find at any grocery store. I should say, I have been saying this with any recipe review for the Thug Kitchen Challenge. I really think this book stands out in that it uses ingredients you can find just about anywhere.
That aside, the preparation was also very easy and steps were carefully laid out. I would recommend making the brown rice on prep day so that the rice sticks better to the beans etc. Also, you can save on cost by making the beans from scratch. Save the money for nice slider buns. I got mine from Portofino Bakery, here in Victoria. How can you go wrong with pretzel slider buns?
The time it took to make the recipe was a bit longer, however it made around 18 patties, and I would suggest eating no more than 3 in one sitting (they are so filling – see details below). So really, it is a bit of an investment to make as little as six meals.
The Taste Test
The appearance of these burgers was great, really it’s how you dress them up. Alone, they look good but I mean how does a veggie patty look as hot as Blake Lively? My point exactly…
Taste wise, these were great. Not too overpowering in flavour. I found them a little soft, so make sure you add some toppings with a bit of crunch to them. I was so happy to see they stuck together too. I really wanted to pan fry the leftovers but never got around to it. Has anyone else tried this? I wondered if it would add more crunch, also wanted to see if they stuck together.
Final Verdict
I gave this recipe an overall rating of 90%. Needless to say, I really liked this one. I would definitely make this again, and try making a bigger version next time for a full meal. I really like how I can freeze these and have them when the mood hits. Added bonus! I hope you get to enjoy these on your next barbecue too 🙂
