Burgers you can healthily indulge in
By Zuriel Isaac
The rising popularity of vegan burgers has caused many burger joints to adopt this trend. ZURIEL ISAAC finds out more about the two most outstanding vegan burgers in Singapore.
Vegan burgers are trending here in Singapore. Photo courtesy of Lifestyle Guide.
In a report by The Straits Times on Jan 25, 2020, the recent movement of Veganuary SG which happened in January had influenced more than 2,000 people to go on a meatless diet. Many have done so in view of the cruelty towards animals in the process of farming.
Most of these vegan burgers were brought in through western influence, with many joints placing them up for sale in the year 2010 where it all started. Today, there are more than 20 of these joints in Singapore.
Mr Nicholas Chan, a foodie who enjoys trying new foods, says that he “enjoyed the experience as it was more than just trying a burger, but beyond that, a new taste beyond what you would expect from a vegan burger”.
I have done a taste test comparing the best tasting vegan burgers from various restaurants. The top two I have concluded to be the best tasting in Singapore would be the Impossible Burger from Park Bench Deli and the Smoky BBQ Burger from Veganburg.
1. Impossible Patty Melt at Park Bench Deli
The Impossible Patty Melt: Special sauce and dill pickles sandwiched between rye bread. Photo courtesy of Najeer Yusof.
The combination of cheese, onions and burger patty makes for a classic burger that everybody enjoys. Park Bench Deli combines plant-based goodness in a tasty bite.
The juicy and thick patty entices your taste buds instantly, complimented by the special sauce creating a sweet yet savoury taste. In addition, the caramelized onions create a sweeter taste for the overall flavour of the burger. The American cheddar cheese simply adds texture and a depth of taste leaving you wanting more.
Location: 179 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068627
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Price: $22
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Rating: ​
“The burger provides that meaty, gamey taste which you exactly want in a burger!” says Mr Chan, who had also tried the Impossible Patty Melt.
He quickly adds that he was surprised to know what he was tasting was not meat but a
plant-based patty.
Ms Clara Pang, 18, a student studying Food, Nutrition & Culinary Science at Temasek Polytechnic, says that the main differentiating point of the Impossible Burger when compared to a normal burger is that there is a higher source of protein with less fat which provides a healthier option.
“This reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases due to the ingredients used,” she adds.
Priced at $22, it can be a little bit on the expensive side, but it is certainly worth a try and in my opinion would be the best Impossible Burger adaptation in the whole of Singapore to date.
2. Smokey BBQ burger at VeganBurg
Smokey BBQ Burger. Photo courtesy of Abillonveg.
The Smokey BBQ Burger from Veganburg creates a delicious vegan burger from the classic barbecue taste.
The strong smoky BBQ sauce filled my taste buds as I took the first bite of the burger. The salty, sweet, smoky and a tinge of caramel taste provide for a balanced level of each unique taste to be blended together to form one unique BBQ flavour overall.
Veganburg adds a fluffy bun which creates a delicious combination, but one thing that could be further
Location: 44 Jln Eunos, Singapore 419502
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Price: $12.90
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Rating: ​
improved is the taste of its patty. The patty does not satisfy a meat flavour but instead a soy one. However, the combination of flavours enticed me to wanting more.
Lim Jin Ming, 18, a Temasek Polytechnic student who has tried this burger recently, says that the parts that stood out to him most were the sauce and the bread which were “the best parts of the burger”.
Ms Pang adds that the use of wholemeal bun in this burger is a much healthier option as it has more fibre and iron than white bread while still maintaining a similar texture.
Priced at $12.90, it provides for a delicious meal with a lower price point as compared to the Impossible Patty Melt from Park Bench Deli.
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In conclusion, both burgers stand out as compared to other vegan burgers in Singapore but the Impossible Patty Melt was the more appealing burger to me when it comes down to taste. The price point between the two burgers varies but splurging a little more for the Impossible Patty Melt is definitely worth it. Choosing any of the two burgers provides for a healthy yet delicious meal.