Need help with nutmeat patties

[Raupe]

Now, firstly, I have never used nutmeat before. I need your helP! DP bought some nutmeat in a can (vegie delights by sanitarium) so we can make veggie patties tonight for veggie burgers. He thought we could just take it out of the can and form patties and off we go. But I read the label and it said you should 'grate' it ( what consistency is it?!) and then add onion, garlic, herbs, eggs, brown rice etc etc. Ok, so do I need to add all that stuff? Do I really need rice, when we are going to eat it on rolls anyway (I don't like having double or triple carbs). And the packet said we need onion powder Really? I never use onion powder, do I have to get it just for these burgers?

Do you guys have any other way I could make yummy patties out of this nutmeat?

Please help!!!

[*Ash*]

Oh Raupe, I couldn't let you kill your own thread!

I haven't used Sanitarium nutmeat but I did get served it once at a neighbour's lunch. It was sliced in thick pieces on the plate. It is a solid consistency, a little bland I thought. The label probably suggests grating and adding those other ingredients to jazz it up a bit!
Hopefully Audax or cherished1 or meow (If she isn't busy having her previous bub) will come in and help you out much better than I have.

[Raupe]

Thanks *Ash*!

Yep, I'll try grating it and adding some carrot, onion, garlic herbs, chilli etc.... I'll leave out the bits I don't want (like the rice). I'll just go freestyle! Hehe

[*Ash*]

Sounds like a good plan! I like the chilli idea, yum. Good luck, let me know how they turn out. You might inspire me to buy some nutmeat.

[Raupe]

Hehe, thanks! We'll see how I go... I just thought of the chilli, because I LOVE LOVE the sweet chilli veggie patties sanitarium makes! (the ones in the fridge section). DP and I are not veggo, but I like to have a few meat-free days a week. And veggie burgers have always been a hit! I guess DP brought home the tin because it's cheaper than the ready made patties . Oh well, I'm always up for an experiment!

[meow]

Thanks *Ash*!

Yep, I'll try grating it and adding some carrot, onion, garlic herbs, chilli etc.... I'll leave out the bits I don't want (like the rice). I'll just go freestyle! Hehe

Sounds perfect. I haven't eaten nutmeat either... I think I did try it once YEARS ago (or maybe it was the canned sausages) and decided I don't like the canned stuff. It could be good all mixed up with other things. The only canned stuff I buy is the savoury lentils- they are handy to make up a quick spag bol sauce or vegie burgers.

Yep- still here Ash!

[Raupe]

Thanks meow!
I saw the savoury lentils today! I wish DP had bought those, but oh well...Next time! Do you have to mix anything with those when you make patties for burgers or can you just use it as is?

AFM, I just went to the shops and bought some fresh chilli and a lime...Going for some thai flavour. I'll report back tomorrow!!

[meow]

They have a patties recipe on the can- same deal as the one you have I think. I think I just added onion, carrot, peanut butter, herbs and breadcrumbs. I don't add the rice either, but the breadcrumbs do help hold them together. We often have burgers, homemade chips and salad, so no extra bread.

[Raupe]

sounds nice! I should try that as well and compare! Really excited now!

[KitFaerie]

Ah nutmeat my childhood friend

You can just cut it into slabs and pan fry it for a bit (my mum used to crumb it first) or she used to make burgers by taking off the top lid and dragging a fork over the nutmeat so it got all grated (not one for using unneccessary utensils!) then she added a bunch of herbs, onion, a bit of flour to thicken and tomato sauce and pan fried the patties. I think sometimes she grated in carrot and zucchini and other vegies too.

Seasoning is a must with nutmeat, it has a very mild flavour. It goes awesome with tomato sauce though

[luna moth]

Sorry to disappoint. I've never used it.

[Raupe]

Ahh, that doesn't matter Audax! I like experimenting!

So, here is what I did:
I opened the can and couldn't help but burst out laughing... it looked AND smelled like cat food!! OMG, is it ACTUALLY edible?
So anyway, I grated the whole thing and grated a carrot into it, too. Then I added chopped onion, garlic, fresh red chilli, lime zest, lime juice, 1/2 cup brown lentils, 2 eggs, some bread crumbs and spices (curry powder, dried chilli, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt) and mixed it all up. I tasted it and thought something was missing... So I added some chilli mango chutney (it's awesome with curry and lime!!) and a bit of sugar. That balanced it nicely! It was a bit too runny, though, so I added some more bread crumbs. I formed them into patties and coated in breadcrumbs. I left them in the fridge for a few hours before I used them.

Now here's the review:
They we're quite nice, once you get over the initial look and smell. They were really moist, but this also caused them to squish out when you bit into the burger! I don't care, I'm a messy eater anyway! I think you must like the flavour of nutmeat though, because even with all the 'flavouring' you could still really taste it. It's okay, but I think I much prefer lentil/soy/chickpea patties... So if you like nutmeat - I say go for it! Otherwise stick to other options.

Thanks for helping and reading