It wasn’t until 1982 that the veggie burger concept went mainstream and became more than just a hamburger topped with veggies. Gregory Sams is credited with inventing it in London at his natural foods shop, popular with counter-cultural leading lights like John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Richard Frank founded Four Seasons in 1998 to provide the Capital District with healthy, organic, natural foods that engage and nourish the senses, he said. He shared the veggie burger that Four Seasons chef Katie Porter whips up. 

Serves 4

1 cup sunflower seeds
3 large carrots, shredded
1⁄8 cup tahini
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon tamari
Fresh dill, chopped, to taste Salt and pepper to taste Olive oil for drizzling

Preheat oven 350°. Grind sunflower seeds in food processor until they’re quite small, but don’t grind into paste. Mix sunflower seeds with car- rots, tahini, cumin, tamari, dill, salt and pepper in a bowl. Form into four patties. On a sheet pan, add a little olive oil and place patties. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Serve on a bun with lettuce, tomato and vegan aioli (vegan mayo with minced fresh garlic), if desired.

Four Seasons Natural Foods is located at 33 Phila Street in Saratoga Springs. FourSeasonsNaturalFoods.com.