You don’t have to look too hard to find a vegan or a meatless patty these days. With texture and looks similar to the traditional beef burgers, vegan burgers have become a hit not just with those who want to go completely meatless, but also among flexitarians who would love to do their bit for the environment and personal benefit.
A common question that runs through consumers’ minds, though, is, so I can get a vegan burger almost anywhere, but what about the dressing? And do I have any options of replacing the sauce on my burger with a vegan alternative?
Fortunately, the answer is “yes”. Read on to know more about vegan dressings, leading brands, what goes inside a vegan dressing, and also how you can make a similar sauce at home.
What is a Vegan Dressing All About?
A lot of vegans take a step back from eating out at places that “also serve vegan burgers” because of the dressing. Let’s take the example of Burger King. Their meatless options have soared in popularity among flexitarians and even vegetarians.
But vegetarians and vegans must be cautious, for their dressing contains regular mayonnaise. And of course, it is a well-known fact that mayo contains eggs, a big “no-no” for vegetarians and vegans. Of course, if you are a vegan, you can always opt for a meatless burger with no mayo.
However, this scenario is rapidly changing as 100% vegan dressings are being manufactured by multiple brands. And no, we are not talking about eggless mayo, for they often contain dairy products, another “no” in veganism. You can read more about vegan mayonnaise options in this article.
So, then what are consumers left with? Vegan mayo? Not really. There’s a wide variety of ingredients that are used in vegan dressings (yes, apart from mayo), and they are near-perfect substitutes for your regular burger sauces.
Let’s look at what goes into most vegan burger dressings.
Variety of Ingredients
Most vegan burger sauce makers still use vegan mayo as an ingredient, but that’s not the only contributor to the medley of flavours they create. They also use a wide variety of other substances, mainly based on the original, non-vegan sauce that they are trying to replicate.
So, when buying vegan dressings, be prepared to see ingredients such as cashews, tomatoes, pickles, pepper, mustard, onions, garlic, and so on. Other ingredients include a variety of herbs, lime, vinegar, oats, pea and soy protein, and several flavor-enhancing spices such as tamarind, cloves, and other natural flavoring agents.
Which Brands of Vegan Sauce are Popular?
Now let’s jump into some specifics. You are convinced that there is a vegan burger sauce out there that you could buy. But which brands are more popular? Are there as many choices in flavours as advertised?
We break down the vegan sauces that the leading brands provide. While some brands originated in the United States, there has been a lot of activity in this domain in other parts of the world, too.
Here’s a good selection for you to choose from.
Follow Your Heart
They call it the “Vegan Thousand Islands.” Ingredients include soy protein, sweet pickle, tomatoes, Dijon mustard, garlic, onion, and many more items to get as close as possible to the well-loved tangy taste of the original Thousand Islands dressing.
Homestyle Roasted Pepper Spread- Famous dressing from the Balkans
The uniqueness of this spread lies in the key ingredient, which is roasted pepper. And it also helps that the majority of the makers of this popular spread use only natural and seasonal ingredients, with no preservatives. They are traditional recipes carried over from generation to generation. This spread peculiar to the Balkans region is gaining popularity amongst vegans worldwide, especially in the US.
But why is roasted pepper so popular among vegan sauces? Well, it’s a flavor that goes with almost anything, burgers, sandwiches, fries, and even salad. Also, for some people, the taste and the smell of roaster pepper somehow remind them of home. Roasted pepper spread is traditionally called “AJVAR” (pronounced: i-vaar).
- Where can I purchase a jar of this tasty spread for my plant-based patty?
This popular spread is sold in most ethnic foods stores across the US but you can also purchase it on Amazon.
- Can I make a roasted peppers spread aka “AJVAR” at home?
Absolutely! If you are “culinarily inclined” making this spread from roasted organic peppers is a ton of fun!
Hive Vegan UFO Burger Sauce
They do use vegan mayo as one of the ingredients, but they also add other ingredients such as mustard, tomatoes, and vinegar to create a melange of flavors for your taste buds.
The Wizards Sauces Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
Looking for Worcestershire sauce without anchovies? “The Wizards Sauces” brings you just that. All ingredients, such as soy, apple cider vinegar, chili pepper, orange, lemon, mushrooms, and more, are plant-based and organic. They claim that you can use this sauce in a glass of Bloody Mary, too, and no one will know!
Woolworths Made with Plants Burger Sauce
The product is from an Australian brand and made from ingredients that are almost all sourced locally in Australia. So, if you are in the land down under, this could be your go-to, local, vegan burger sauce. They use soy, paprika, apple cider vinegar, gherkin, and other flavourful, natural ingredients.
Eat Like Buddhas Sauce
This sauce is made in small batches by gourmet vegan chefs. It is sold at select farmers’ markets throughout California. You can order this sauce through the maker’s website and enjoy it on your plant-based burger or fries tonight! Personally, I give this sauce thumbs up. It tastes amazing and the ingredients are 100% vegan.
Leon Love Burger Sauce
Leon sends love from the UK through this vegan mayonnaise-based burger sauce. They use additional ingredients to spice things up, which include tomatoes, mustard, turmeric, paprika, fava beans, and cayenne pepper.
Coles Vegan Special Burger Sauce
Another marvel from Australia, the original Special Burger Sauce from Coles was such as hit that they decided to launch the vegan option. Even non-vegans could not spot the difference in taste! They even say that it’s the closest anyone can get to the McDonald’s burger sauce.
Can You Make a Vegan Burger Dressing at Home?
You absolutely can! There are so many amazing recipes that let you create a store-identical vegan burger sauce with as few ingredients as possible. You can choose between a vegan mayo-based spread, or for those who want an oil-free option, there are plenty of other ingredients, such as cashews, mustard, tomatoes, pickles, dill, onions, garlic, and peppers.
If you feel adventurous, you can also try making the roasted pepper spread. Of course, when strapped for time, the store-bought sauces are pretty good to go.
The rising demand for vegan sauces and dressing
There is no doubt that veganism is on the rise, globally. Whether it is for living a healthier lifestyle, or caring about the planet, or marching against animal cruelty, many more people are opting for vegan food than before.
The trend is here to stay with so many flavourful options of meatless burgers now available. So, regardless of whether you are looking to switch to veganism, or just want to try out something different as a flexitarian, vegan burgers slathered with guilt-free vegan sauces are a great place to start.