When I was tasked with writing about Food52’s most popular burger recipe, I thought I knew what to expect. At the very least, there’d be beef involved, right? Nope. As it turns out, our most popular burger recipe is a veggie burger—and a non-traditional one at that. Specifically, the honor goes to Shake Shack’s ’Shroom Burger, a longtime vegetarian offering from the chain that defies and stretches our understanding of what a burger can be.
This recipe eschews the usual veggie burger approach, which attempts to turn vegetables into something that resembles a classic burger patty. Instead, the “patty” is made by roasting a portobello mushroom, stuffing it with cheese, covering it with panko breadcrumbs, and deep frying the whole thing. Put it on a bun and top it with lettuce, sliced tomato, and ShackSauce—a mixture of ketchup, mayo, Dijon mustard, and pickle brine—to complete the iconic sandwich. The result is supremely juicy, crispy, and as satisfyingly rich as any regular beef burger. Just don’t be put off by the number of ingredients in this recipe or the prospect of frying patties at home. The stuffing and dredging process is straightforward, and the frying itself only takes a few minutes.
It’s the element of surprise, whether from the deep-fried patty or the molten cheese core, that makes this burger such a winner. “It wasn’t until I tried the Shake Shack ’Shroom Burger that I realized veggie burgers needn’t be sensible,” writes Sarah Jampel, who excerpted the recipe from Shake Shack’s 2017 cookbook. “Why coax vegetables (and, for most recipes, grains and binders and starches, too) into the shape of a patty? Vegetarian burgers can be entirely nonsensical and untraditional and just as messily delicious as any meat burger on the menu.”
Mushrooms not your thing? Don’t worry—we’ve got a ton of other burger recipes on our site, from classic cheeseburgers to other vegetarian and vegan alternatives.
Written by: Anabelle Doliner
Popular on Food52
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