Review: MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger

Overall

2.5

Are MorningStar Farms Falafel Burgers any good?

There’s nothing inherently wrong with these garbanzo bean based burgers, but nor is there anything particularly exciting or innovative either. These are fairly run of the mill bean burgers. That said, the current pricing of these at the time of writing is much more than other comparable burgers.

A lot has been going on with the MorningStar Farms product line the past year or so. From the controversy surrounding the reformulation of their Grillers product through to the release of multiple new vegan friendly SKUs. Enter stage right then these new vegan falafel burgers.

The falafel burgers are sold as 1/4lb patties (in their precooked form) just like the other new vegan focused products and they’re hefty slabs and then some. Seriously these things pack a wallop – I’m not a shy eater – and I need a rest after eating just one of these.

Texturally they’re something of a mushy interior studded with the odd full sized chickpea. I’d definitely think about your burger toppings with that in mind, you’ll want to add some crunch to add interest.

Taste wise these were disappointing and in truth had much more in common with the brand’s Tex-Mex burgers, than any falafel I’ve tasted. The flavor-profile is far less herbaceous than I’d expect from a falafel and languidly one note, my palate started to seriously tire half way through; as did my jaw, again, these are hefty challenges to work through.

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger – what’s in the bag?

Inside the resealable plastic packaging you’ll find four patties. Like other products in MorningStar’s newer vegan burger lineup – they share the familiar flower petal shape.

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger

Here’s the finished product served up on a toasted bun with green leaf lettuce and roasted red pepper. Towards the end of the pics you’ll see a close up cross section showing the burger interior too.

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger vegi burger

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger close up

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger inside view

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger – nutrition, ingredients, cooking instructions

You can bake these, microwave or pan fry these falafel burgers. I found the microwave method reliable, though imagine the pan frying option would prevent some of the dryness I found.

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger nutrition, cooking instructions

MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger paclakge front — MorningStar Farms Falafel Burger package front

How much do MorningStar Farms Falafel Burgers cost?

I paid $7.34 for this four pack from Walmart. That feels far too high and perhaps maybe cashing in on the current vegan food fad. I realize the patties are significantly larger than a regular meat free burger, but still, I doubt I’ll take a second look at these until they fall under the $5 mark.

More MorningStar Farms products and dishes

Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC – Utah’s biggest and oldest online food magazine; I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows.

I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. I started Shop Smart to catalogue my adventures in the grocery store and kitchen. Follow along on Instagram too!

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