Two Great Summer Menu Additions – Vegan Burger and Pittsburgh Pickles

Aug 10, 2021 by Chef David

By Chef David

Summer is the time when food preparation is simplified, and meals move outdoors. Consider changing up the menu, which traditionally consists of burgers and hotdogs, to provide variety. Challenge your palate with different tastes provided by Vegan Burger, certified kosher by Oregon Kosher, and Pittsburgh Pickle Co. certified by the OU. These high-quality parve foods kick your summer meals to healthier heights. End the same-old-different-day syndrome, by introducing new flavors, and expanding your repertoire.  

Burger’s Up!

What comes to mind when you think about veggie burgers?  My mind goes to the frozen unhealthy preformed patties, made of a variety of ingredients – because they come frozen, they don’t travel well. They are designed to look like a meat burger, but that is where the similarity ends. In contrast, the Vegan Burger has a distinctive, look, feel, and taste, it may not be burger-pretty, but it is healthy and tasty.  

Vegan Burger is a dry vegan gluten-free burger mix, just waiting for you to add hot water to transform it into a meal. The basic ingredients are consistent across all four flavors: natural gluten-free oats, organic brown rice, freshly dried vegetables, and beans (black beans, green peas, and pinto beans).  The Vegan Burger is a packaged mix, designed for convenience. It was made to travel, requiring no refrigeration, and it has a 1-year shelf life.

Four Distinctive Flavors

Each of the four flavors adds distinctive spices, and ingredients: Viva Italian (Italian Seasoned), Vege Caliente (Spicy Mexican), B.B. & Ohh (Black Beans and Olives), and Veggie Six-mix. For example, the Mexican Burger Mix includes onions, peppers (bell, jalapeno, chipotle, and red), and garlic (the mix is flavored but far from being spicy), while the Italian contains mushrooms, spinach, olives, and tomatoes, giving them a subtle taste difference. I enjoyed B.B. & OHH! best because of the delightful yet unexpected combination of flavors from the olives and mushrooms. In fact, it would make a great filling for stuffed mushrooms.

Health-wise, each patty consists of a 1/3 a cup of mix, which contains 120 calories, no added sugar, five grams of fiber, no saturated or trans fats. Vegan Burgers provide iron, calcium, and potassium.  The salt content is only 8% of the daily value, which compares favorably with other veggie burgers.  

Experimentation Is Key

The burger preparation process takes a little getting used to, adding hot water produces a mixture that resembles hot oatmeal more than a burger.  But this reflects the simplicity of the ingredients in the mix, there are no additives or extenders.  The directions are so simple – combine 1 cup of mix with 2/3 a cup of very hot water, then wait 5-8 minutes. Stir.  Form into 2 to 3 burgers and cook. It is recommended to sauté them on the stovetop for 6 to 8 minutes per side. These burgers are suitable for camping or backyard BBQ.

The key is to accessorize the patty. I topped my burger with tomatoes, pickles, onions, and condiments, eating them the way I would a traditional burger. The accouterments added additional color and flare.

Next, I began to experiment, I took the liberty of kicking the mix up a notch by adding additional ingredients, fresh corn and, mushrooms to the leftovers. This changed the texture, extending the flavor palette while adding vibrant colors, transforming the dish from a burger wanna-be into a meal in its own right. This time, I served it on a bed of pasta, with a side of salad, and had a fully balanced meal. 

The Topper – Pittsburgh Pickles 

As part of preparing burgers, I discovered the wide range of pickles, the distinguishing factor is their brine. Having grown up on kosher dills, and half-sour pickles – from the deli or in jars, I was unprepared by the bold taste sensation of Pittsburgh Pickles. These are small-batch pickles, made by hand, with a distinctive crunch, from their freshness. They pack a unique flavor that comes from their brine – made with garlic, dill, and peppers.  We sampled their Pittsburgh-Style Pickle with signature crispiness not typically present in grocery store pickles. The pickles’ sweet and spicy taste is worlds different from the more common kosher dill of my local deli. 

Brine Makes the Brand 

Brine is what makes Pittsburgh Pickles pop. Expanding their product line, beyond pickles, they make a Bloody Mary mix called Briney Mary. Briney Mary incorporates their unique prickle brine and horseradish. This mix is not for the weak-of-stomach, it packs a punch, which earned it two platinum medals at the Drunken Tomato Awards, a competition of Bloody Mary mixes.  

The brine itself is bottled and marketed as Pickelixer, which may be used to boost gut health, soothe muscle cramps, recover electrolytes to keep you hydrated, cure hangovers, sweeten breath naturally, and makes a great mixed drink. While these statements are not medical claims, there are generally known benefits associated with pickle juice.  I have found a benefit in drinking pickle juice after exercise, it may be attributed to the restorative properties of vinegar, or the sodium and potassium that replace electrolytes lost exercising.  

Pickles themselves are healthy, like most vegetables they are primarily water and have zero calories per spear. One pickle spear contains as much as 20% of your daily Vitamin K and A requirements. Pickles also contain calcium, sodium, fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C. Aristotle praised the healing effects of cured cucumbers and Julius Caesar fed pickles to his troops in the belief that they lent physical and spiritual strength.

Pittsburgh Pickles a Family Story

The pickle business, foundered in 2014 by three brothers, Joe, John, and Will was an offshoot of their restaurant and bar, The Beerhive, located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh.  New to the restaurant business the brothers experimented, hitting a winner with their unique flavor of pickles. 

Customer demand made them realize that their hand-crafted artisan pickles were special. Pittsburgh Pickles are farm-to-table fresh, their cucumbers which are fresh off the farm, hand-cut and immediately jarred. Fresh crispness separates them from the competition, along with their signature taste. In addition to the products we sampled, they produce other unique flavors like Fire & Smoke, Better Bread & Butter, and Dill Mill.

Straight From the Garden Flavors

Vegan Burger and Pittsburgh pickles are healthier choices with straight-from-the-garden ingredients. These high-quality products, contain natural ingredients and pack full-bodied flavor. Both are available for purchase online.  The kosher world is expanding with the introduction of new and exciting products. Embrace your wild side, you’ll be glad that you did.