Product Review: Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger

Product: Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger – $5.99+

Lately…I’ve been doing my best to make my own veggie burgers.  I’ve been a vegetarian for 4 years now and gluten-free for 3 years…and while there is definitely more of a market for gluten-free/vegan or vegetarian burger patties out there…not all veggie burgers are created equally.  I’ve done plenty of experimentation.  And, before I had to go gluten-free…I was all about the Morningstar patties.  There were none better.

Then…going gluten-free took them off the table and out of my freezer.  At first, I lamented this.  However, then I went back awhile ago and looked at the ingredient list on Morningstar patties…and cringed!  It’s mostly chemicals.  YUCK!  Maybe this gluten-free thing was a blessing in disguise.

That being said, I’ve found some great veggie burgers and some not-so-great veggie burgers.  I’ve had burgers that have fallen apart as they cooked and burgers that wowed me.

Tonight…I tried a different veggie burger.

Made by Health is Wealth, the company that once upon a time made vegan and gluten-free not-chicken nuggets.  They no longer make them anymore.  Which I still cry about.  BUT…they do make veggie burgers too.  And these, at least, are vegan and gluten-free.

My natural food store carried two of the varieties of Health is Wealth.  The burgers themselves are called Sprout Burgers.  Why?  Because they are actually made from organic sprouted grains – specifically quinoa, amaranth and millet).  These vegan and gluten-free burgers are made with non-GMO soy as well, are baked and never fried, and are packed with flavor.  They come in three flavor options – original, Chipotle Bean, and Mushroom and Onion.

With my plethora of romaine lettuce, red onion and roma tomato from my recent CSA bin, a gluten-free veggie burger dinner was definitely needed.  So, I pulled out the gluten-free sandwich rolls my local gluten-free bakery (shout-out to Annie May’s Sweet Café on Frankfort Avenue) from my freezer to thaw while I was at work.  When I got home, it was just a matter of getting the burgers cooked.

That task was easy.  While I toasted the rolls to make the buns, I put the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burgers on my skillet to cook through.  That took about 4 minutes on each side.  It didn’t take long at all.  I plated up the burgers on the toasted buns with the vegetables and some vegan sriracha sour cream…and dinner was served.

So…how good can the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger taste?

AMAZING!  First of all, this burger does not crumble.  It won’t fall apart as you try to bite into it.  The texture is meaty and awesome.  The flavor is just the right amount of spice with the right level of spice.  It has just enough heat to keep it interesting.  The beans add a lot of protein.  And the flavor is amazing.  I was so impressed with the Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger.  I’m also excited that I have two more patties left in the freezer for my roommate and I to eat later this week.  These are fantastic.  Even meat eaters (like my roomie) will enjoy these.  They are hearty, healthy, and just amazing.

So…what sort of ingredients go into vegan and gluten-free burgers?  Well, in the case of the Health is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger…the following: non-GMO hydrated textured soy protein, organic sprouted grains (millet, quinoa, amaranth), non-GMO isolated soy protein, black beans, corn kernels, canola oil, molasses, red pepper, seasonings (sea salt, tomato powder, garlic powder, lime juice), food starch, hydrolyzed soy protein, modified cellulose gum, oat fiber, garlic powder, caramel color, onion powder, sea salt, maltodextrin, yeast extract, lemon juice.

It seems like a lot…but at least it’s not just a load of chemicals and unpronounceable ingredients.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger is one patty.  This one patty will serve you up 90 calories (REALLY good for a veggie burger) and 3 grams of fat.  These are cholesterol free, contain 420 mg sodium, and only 2 grams of sugar.  One serving also gives you 3 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein.  You will definitely feel full.

I absolutely LOVED this burger.  My roomie did too.  In fact, we both said that we’ll have to try the other Health Is Wealth vegan and gluten-free burgers.  They were that great.  Loved the texture, the flavor, and everything about these.  The price isn’t too bad either.  Not for 4 patties in a box.  If you haven’t given these a try…make sure you do.  They are really fantastic.