Good For You: Sol Cuisine

Whether it’s the lure of outdoor grilling—or just their overall, “no-fuss, mainstay deliciousness,”—I find my craving for burgers reaches its peak in July and August. Being a nutritionist, I tend to satisfy these “patty-longings” with healthy choices like grass-fed lamb, free-range poultry and yes, even veggie burgers. However, I must confess, while veggie burgers are a decidedly virtuous option, my own “meatless creations” tend to be crumbly, fragile discs that don’t fare very well on the grill. That’s why I occasionally opt for the sturdier, commercially prepared varieties.  I particularly like the burgers made by  Sol Cuisine, an Ontario based company that produces a tasty selection of non-gmo, gluten and wheat free, organic vegan products.

Their line of veggie burgers is, in this humble foodie’s opinion, one of the best on the market. I’ve had the pleasure of sampling almost every member of their burger family—Original, Falafel, Almond Grain, Spicy Black Bean, Sweet Curry Vegetable and Mushroom Rice—and been more than satisfied with the taste and texture of each. My only “beef:” with these burgers is that they contain soy protein concentrate, a processed form of soy that does not align with my personal “whole foods manifesto”.  While whole soy foods—like edamame and tempeh—are widely regarded as health-enhancing sources of vegan protein, there has been some debate whether or not isolated; highly processed forms of soy—like soy protein concentrate—are equally salubrious.

Thus, I’ve reluctantly consumed my beloved Sol Cuisine burgers in moderation—relegating them to the occasional meal—until now that is. To my heart, and palate’s delight, the innovative crew at Sol Cuisine recently added two new “soy free” burgers to their existing line-up. (the Sprouted Quinoa and Black Chia Burger, and the Indian Masala Burger)

As soon as I heard the good news, I rushed to the market to grab a box of the Sprouted Quinoa burgers and fired up the grill for dinner!  I was not disappointed. In fact, this burger exceeded my expectations. The texture is perfect—unlike many veggie burgers, these patties are not leathery or chewy in any way. The chia seeds lend a nice crunch while the sprouted quinoa gives the burger an overall moist tenderness.  The flavour is somewhat nutty and delicately spicy. I topped my burger with Benedictine (that delightful Kentucky blend of cream cheese, cucumber juice and chopped cucumber), heirloom tomatoes and a few avocado slices. The creation was simply divine—I only made one but could easily have wolfed down another—with impunity. With only 120 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving, these savoury burgers are brimming with nutrition and truly “do a body good”.

Their sprouted quinoa is an easy to digest super-grain, teeming with health-enhancing phytonutrients like the anti-inflammatory flavanols; quercetin and kaempferol. Surprisingly, the concentration of these flavanols is greater in sprouted quinoa than it is in super-fruits like cranberries. Quinoa is also strikingly rich in bone-friendly minerals like calcium, manganese and magnesium. The burger’s Black Chia Seeds are also nutritional powerhouses, supplying impressive amounts of brain and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, they contain ample amounts of the mood-boosting amino-acid tryptophan. Obviously, I was quite smitten with these new soy-free burgers. I can’t wait to try the Indian Masala variety too, but in the meantime I think I’ll toss another Sprouted Quinoa Burger on the barbie tonight—after all, a girl can’t get too many flavanols—or too much flavour!

Available in Victoria @ The Market on Yates, Lifestyle Markets, Mother Nature’s Market

In Vancouver@ Whole Foods, Capers