Meat patty

There is this one dish from your childhood you remember. This "family dish" with 'that' recipe which is handed down from mother to daughter in every generation. The one you simply don't manage to recreate WFPB... For me that's my (grand-)mother's meat patties. I have tried countless burger and patty recipes but either they were too dry, bland or had strange ingredients.

I had almost given up on creating anything resembling my childhood comfort food. But my husband begged me to give it another try. Freestyle. No recipe.

And it worked. I have built the almost perfect German no-meat patty!!! Omni husband approved. Even my 82-yrs-old father didn't make any annoying or derogatory remarks (that's huge).

Traditionally they are eaten with sauerkraut and potatoes with a generous amount of mustard. No sauce. Ever. So they must be moist and well-seasoned. Even more so because I wanted to bake them in the oven.

Yields 24 patties (6 servings)

• 1 can kidney beans, well rinsed

• 1 piece of very firm smoked tofu (about 4 oz.) - or 6 oz. smoked tofu pressed

• 1 cup old fashioned oats

• 1 cup cooked brown or white rice, very soft

• 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms (3 to 4 large ones)

• ¼ cup chopped walnuts (about a handful)

• ¼ cup chopped onions

• ¼ cup nutritional yeast

• 1 large gherkin, finely chopped, about ¼ to ⅓ cup

• 2 small-medium sized sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed (about 2 cups)

• ¼ cup vegetable broth

1 TS tamari sauce

2 TS mustard

2 TS ketchup

2 to 3 TS flaxseeds

2 TS dried marjoram

2 TS dried parsley

1 TS liquid smoke

1 ts ground caraway seeds

½ ts salt (optional)

½ ts freshly ground black pepper

1 ts dried thyme

1 ts garlic powder

½ ts ground Koriander

1 ts smoked paprika

Cut tofu in small cubes and mash with a fork until reduced to crumbs. Mash beans (I use a fork as well) and add all ingredients in a big bowl. Mix with a big cooking spatula and knead with your hands until well combined.

Let sit for 30 minutes. If you like you can put it in the fridge. It's easier to form the patties.

The dough should be very soft, but still keep its shape. Think thick porridge... add some breadcrumbs if too moist.

Preheat oven (350°C) and form small patties (each patty a heaped TS dough).

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flip and bake 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave patties for another 15 minutes. Let completely cool so they can firm up. Can be eaten both warm and cold.

Enjoy.

subheading: One serving (4 patties):

350 calories | 15 g protein | 8 g fat | 46 g carbs | 10 g fibre

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