Red Robin is an American Burger joint which happens to be all over the U.S. While not veg they do serve Boca burgers (vegan) and Gardenburger (vegetarian). While all that is well and fine, sometimes a stomach gets to hunger for one of those fancy-pants burgers, sans dairy and eggs but with the authentic flavors still intact.
As an appetizer, we are quite partial to jalapenos and making them into golden little Jalapeno Coins is very appealing. I mean, who doesn't want a few extra coins to toss around? I made mine with pickled jalapeno slices, but you can use fresh jalapenos or ones that aren't pickled. I made a simple tempura-beer batter (anything with beer is better, right?) and fried them to a crisp. Yumm.
Choosing the burger was more challenging, they have so many, but I picked one that isn't really a burger, even by their definition, but a chicken sandwich. I replaced the chicken with an Amy's Quarter Pounder (a little sweeter than the Bocas - be warned) and made the Bruschetta Chicken Sandwich into a Vegan Bruschetta Burger. This one has a pesto-aioli, tomato, onion and basil salsa, cheeze (Daiya in this case), balsamic cream on a ciabatta roll. Yumm.
Going to Red Robin is not really complete without those aromatic Garlic Fries. Make the steak fries as you would make any crispy fries (using the double fry method) and coat it with your premade garlic oil. Yumm.
Lastly, since it has been so long since I've made anything sweet, I made the Mountain High Mud Pie. Unfortunate Red Robin customers can only get this dessert with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, but us brilliant vegans can use any combination that we find tasty. I used Prailine Crunch Almond Dream and Chocolate Almond Dream. In addition to the ice cream, it has a layer of crushed cookies, peanut butter and chocolate syrup. I used Rice Whip for the whip cream but you can do without it. This was a double Yumm.
Cost Breakdown
coins:
jalapenos: $3
flour: $1
beer, baking powder: $1
Total to make apps for 4:
$5.00
burger:
Amy's burger: $6
Daiya: $2
lettuce, tomato, onion, basil: $2
veganaise, vinegar, pine nuts, garlic: $1.50
ciabatta: $4
potatoes: $3
Total to make 4 burgers:
$18.50
(each of these sandwiches at RR is $11.50)
pie:
Almond Dreams: $8
cookies: $2
chocolate: $1
peanut butter: $1
Rice Whip: $3
Total to make 5 giant servings:
$15.00
Jalapeno Coins |
Bruschetta Burger |
Mountain High Mud Pie |
Wowie. Almond Dream Praline is my new absolute favorite!
ReplyDeleteYeah! Me, too. I loove when these great vegan giants offer a new flavor, especially when it is one of my old pre-enlightened flavors.
ReplyDeleteI'm making Jalapeno Coins this weekend.
ReplyDeleteGood call on the jalapeno coins. Can't wait to try them out.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks so good!
ReplyDeleteAll of this sounds so fantastic! Especially that yummy looking burger!
ReplyDeleteJohan, tell me how it turns out for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tender Baranson and Briarrose.
Thanks, Monique. It's too annoying to go to Red Robin and have all those temping topping round and not have it - so this is totally the best bet. Much cheaper and most likely, much better for you, too. And that isn't even considering the beef.