The Veggie Stardust Bagel
A plant-based burger with character. No rules, no apologies.
This is not a health food recipe. It's a flavour recipe that happens to be vegetarian. The Veggie Stardust Bagel is built on contrast, smoky, spicy, creamy, fresh. Every layer has a reason to be there.
Consider this a base. An open source recipe. Take it, twist it, make it yours.
Ingredients
The Bun
- 1 sesame seed bagel
- Vegemite, just a thin layer, don't be heavy handed
The Cheese
- Fresh goat cheese, slices, twice
The Heat
- Fresh jalapeños, sliced paper thin
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste) inside the tapenade
The Protein, your choice
- A quality store-bought veggie burger patty, cooked in sesame oil
- OR homemade marinated tofu, seasoned your way
- Optional: a slice of veggie turkey fillet (tofu-based) for extra bite
The Tapenade
- Olive oil or sesame oil — base
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Fresh coriander, chopped
- Spring onions, very finely sliced
- Half a red onion, very finely sliced
- 1-2 garlic cloves
- A touch of anchovy paste
- Gochujang to taste
- Mixed spices, your call
The Finish
- 1 slice of tomato, medium thickness
- A few leaves of rocket
The Process
1. The bagel Lightly toast the bottom half only. While still warm, spread a thin layer of Vegemite on both cut sides. It adds a smoky depth that you won't identify immediately but you'll miss if it's not there.
2. The tapenade Mix together the olive or sesame oil, parsley, coriander, spring onions, red onion, garlic, anchovy paste and gochujang. No blender needed, this is a rough, chunky paste. Taste as you go. Set aside.
3. The protein Cook your patty in sesame oil over medium-high heat. If you're going homemade tofu, marinate it first, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, whatever speaks to you. If you're adding a veggie turkey slice, layer it directly on top of the patty once cooked.
4. Building the burger
Start from the bottom:
- Bagel base — Vegemite side up
- Goat cheese, spread generously
- Jalapeño slices — a few, not too many
- Your patty (+ optional veggie turkey slice)
- A spoonful of tapenade on top of the protein
- A solid slice of goat cheese
- Tomato slice
- Another spoonful of tapenade
- Two or three rocket leaves
- Bagel top
Done.
The Philosophy
The Veggie Stardust Burger is open source. The structure is solid, the details are yours. Swap the goat cheese for feta. Drop the jalapeños if you want it milder. Add avocado. Use different herbs in the tapenade. The anchovy paste is optional but recommended, it adds body without tasting like fish.
What matters is the layering. Every bite should hit something different.
Give it a go this Monday and let your taste buds and the planet thank you !
#SelfCareSunday
Steev Crispin
Limitless creative mind, music producer, and brand storyteller. Founder of ColorWorld Music, he blends music, branding, and visual arts to craft emotion-first experiences for brands, artists, and audiences worldwide. Known for his non-linear thinking and passion for innovation, he thrives on connecting ideas, people, and disciplines—always exploring new ways to move and inspire.