Vegan Sheese® Burger Recipe

Place thinly sliced red onion in a heatproof jar or bowl.

In a small saucepan combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, peppercorns and bay leaf. Warm over medium heat just until the sugar and salt dissolve (about 2–3 minutes). Do not boil vigorously.

Pour the hot pickling liquid over the sliced onions, pressing down so the onions are submerged. Allow to cool to room temperature (15–20 minutes), then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for best flavor. These keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

In a small bowl combine 100 g Sheese® spreadable (or 100 g grated Sheese® mixed into 2 tbs vegan mayo), 2 tbs vegan mayonnaise, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp smoked paprika.

Whisk until smooth and season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Taste and adjust acidity or seasoning. Chill in fridge while preparing the patties so flavors meld.

Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat and brush the plant-based patties lightly with 1 tbs olive oil.

Grill or pan-fry the patties for 3–5 minutes per side (follow package directions if using store-bought), until well-browned and cooked through. In the last 1–2 minutes of cooking, sprinkle 40 g grated Sheese® on each patty and cover briefly with a lid to encourage melting.

Meanwhile, butter the cut sides of the buns with 1 tsp vegan butter and toast them, cut-side down, in a dry skillet or on the grill until golden (about 1–2 minutes).

Spread about 1 tbsp (or 15–20 g) Sheese® sauce on the bottom half of each bun.

Place the cooked Sheese-topped patties on the sauced bun bottoms. Top each patty with 2 tsp chilli jam, a generous handful (1 cup) of rocket, and a couple of tablespoons of the sweet & sour pickled onion (drain excess liquid first).

Finish with the top bun, press gently, and serve immediately with extra chilli jam on the side if desired.

If serving to guests, keep pickled onions chilled and reheat patties briefly on the grill for 30–60 seconds before assembling so the cheese remains melty.

Serve each burger hot with your choice of chips or salad.