In association with The Vegetarian Society
Nut Roast (vegan & gluten-free)
Today I’m bringing you a festive Nut Roast from The Vegetarian Society Cookery School. I was thrilled when The Vegetarian Society got in contact with me and asked me to re-create one of the schools Christmas dishes.
As many of you know my daughter became a vegetarian a few months back and this will be her first Christmas as a vegetarian so I had wondered about what I was going to serve her on the big day!
I chose to make this Nut Roast as it’s something that you can easily make in advance (keeps up to 3 months in the freezer or in the fridge for 3 days). I also really love Nut Roast but had never made one. I have a long list of dishes like this, stuffed peppers and mushrooms being 2 others that spring to mind!
We seem to be eating a lot more vegetable based food since my daughter became vegetarian as it’s just a lot easier that way or I’ll adapt our meaty dishes so that the meat is added just before serving so that my daughter can eat the same dish minus the meat. It’s all been a bit of a learning curve!
So this Nut Roast recipe came along at the perfect time as I now know what I’ll be serving my daughter on Christmas Day and I’m sure any leftovers will be hoovered up by everyone else or eaten cold the next day.
Not only was this Nut Roast really tasty (just check out all those fab ingredients) but it was really quite filling too so I would say it would easily serve 6.
If you have a foodie in your life that you’re stuck for a present idea for then why not consider giving them a course from The Vegetarian Society Cookery School or better still treat yourself.
They have fun friendly cookery experiences throughout the year packed with flavoursome dishes, culinary techniques and effortless expertise.
You can try your hand at bread making, take an Indian masterclass or sample stunning street food. If you enjoy foraging or want to “beat the heat” on a chilli inspired session then there’s a tasty workshop for you.
You can also add to your repertoire with the vegan toolkit or vegan party food course. Visit www.vegsoccookeryschool.org for the full calendar of courses and to buy online gift vouchers.
I do hope you try this Nut Roast but for more festive vegetarian recipe inspiration you might like the following recipes:
- Parsnip & Carrot Rostis with Mushrooms & Wenslydale Sauce
- Cranberry, Feta and Quinoa stuffed Butternut Squash
- Kale Lovers Christmas Pie
- Easy Lentil Pumpkin Bowls (vegan & gluten-free)
- Sweet Potato & Chestnut Pie
- Veggie Christmas Easy Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes
To make this meal extra special serve these with my Crispy Coated Roast Potatoes
Looking for a vegan dessert to have afterwards? Try my Vegan Apple Meringue!
Pin for later!
NB: Post commissioned by The Vegetarian Society and all opinions are my own.
Nut Roast (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 200 g red lentils
- 1 onion finely sliced
- 50 g sun-dried tomatoes oil reserved, drained and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 50 g dried apricots chopped
- 200 g mixed nuts chopped
- 50 g mixed seeds
- 1½ tsp dried mixed herbs
- 1 tsp soy sauce*
- 1 carrot grated
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4.
- Cook the lentils in plenty of water for 15 minutes, then drain using a fine sieve.
- While the lentils cook, heat a little of the sun-dried tomato oil in your largest frying pan and gently fry the onion for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add all the other ingredients, except the seasoning.
- Stir really well, add the cooked lentils and stir again, seasoning to taste.
- Line a loaf tin (approx 20cm x 10cm) with non-stick baking paper and spoon in the mixture, patting down well.
- Bake for 50 minutes and allow to cool slightly before removing and cutting into thick slices.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
NB: This can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to three months, or chilled for up to three days and reheated.
*Gluten-free soy sauce is available in most supermarkets
Vicky
Hi, if I made this for a non vegan, could I use egg as a binder? If so, how many?
Thanks vicky
Camilla
Hi, I have no idea what effect that would have but in my turkey meatloaf using the same tin I use 1 egg as a binder! https://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/turkey-meatloaf-actifry-roast-potatoes/
Robert Keeley
I noticed that a lot of people said that the recipe as it is crumbled easily, could I use silken tofu as a binder?
Camilla
Hi Robert, I’ve only used silken tofu a couple of times and would not think it suitable for adding to this nut roast.
Liz
After reading the comments I added 2 tblsp of flax mixed with water to make less crumbly which seemed to work well, might only need 1tblsp though as it was fairly sticky
Mary
The flavour of this is gorgeous. However, I had it packed really well into the tin, and let it cool before I cut it, and it was very crumbly. How could I get it to stick together? Thanks.
Camilla
Hi Mary, this is a recipe I shared on behalf of the Vegetarian Society Cookery School and is on the crumbly side. Perhaps I should develop my own recipe.
Susan Crane
We absolutely loved the flavour of this nut roast!! I followed the recipe and didn’t deviate and unfortunately is was a crumble and we weren’t able to slice it.
Would appreciate suggestions to make the loaf stick together 🙂
Camilla
Glad you like it Susan. This is a Vegetarian Society Recipe that I shared on their behalf and it was on the crumbly side. Make sure the mixture is packed down very firmly in the tin and do allow to cool a little before cutting. I found it cut the best when cold for leftovers the next day.
Sarah
Hi could I use cranberries instead of apricot
Camilla
As this nut loaf has a tendency to be quite crumbly I think it would make it too crumbly as the apricots are quite sticky when chopped up. But if you don’t mind taking that risk then I think the flavour would be great!
Frances
Good flavours tho I substituted chopped olives for apricots.. As I didn’t fancy the sweetness. I would have given it 5 stars, except that it didn’t stick together and ended up as nut crumble!
Camilla
Olives are oily and would have repelled the other ingredients whereas apricots as sticky and act like glue.
Ella Davies
2 tbsp of ground flax seeds mixed with some of the starchy lentil water and leave to go gluey. This can be used as an egg substitute to bind mixture together
Liz
Perfect, thanks for this tip, mine worked a treat and tasted fab.
Tracy Scoggins
Are the red lentils split or whole?
Camilla
Hi Tracy, I didn’t actually know you could buy whole red lentils but on Googling I see one can get hold of them on-line. In my recreation of this recipe I used split red lentils but I imagine whole red lentils would have been fine too.
Jocelyn
I have cooked and frozen it for Christmas.,Would I cook it from frozen or defrost first., and how long please?
Camilla
Hi Jocelyn, you should defrost the nut roast first and to reheat put it on a baking tray and cover with foil. Reheat at oven 180C or Fan 160C for 50 mins until piping hot. A food thermometer is really handy!