Vegan Christmas Nut Loaf
Ingredients
For the loaf
1 1/4 cups Nuts (I use a combination of Cashews, Walnuts & Brazil Nuts but can use any)
1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds
1 large Onion
6 chopped Sage Leaves
1 sprig Rosemary/6 sprigs Thyme or both
4 cloves Garlic minced
1 cup chopped Mushrooms
1 heaped cup cubed Butternut Squash
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1/2 tsp freshly Ground Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp fine Himalayan Salt
2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 tsp Tomato Paste
2 Flax Eggs (mix 2 tbsp Flaxseed meal mixed with 5 tbsp water)
2/3 cup Breadcrumbs or 1 slice Toasted Sourdough or GF Bread of your choice blitzed into a crumb
2 tbsp Brown Rice Flour
2 tbsp Olive Oil
For the gravy
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 finely chopped Onion
1/2 cup sliced Mushrooms
4 tbsp Flour (all purpose or Gluten-Free)
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp Whole Grain Mustard
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 cup non-dairy Milk
1 1/4 cup Stock of choice
2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
1-2 tsp fresh Thyme Leaves
Freshly Gground Black Pepper to taste
Salt to taste
Instructions
- Toast the nuts and seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until golden then add to a food processor and pulse into a coarse meal with a few bigger pieces visible.
- Heat a pan over medium heat.
- Add olive oil, onion and garlic and fresh herbs and cook until onion is soft.
- Then add chopped mushrooms and a pinch of salt and cook until golden.
- Add butternut squash and a good splash or two of water or veggie stock, cover and cook until the squash is tender, checking and stirring often.
- Mash and transfer to a bowl.
- Add the spices, salt and pepper, chopped nuts and seeds, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, flax egg mix, breadcrumbs and flour and mix well. If dry add a splash of water.
- Add to a lined loaf tin and spread evenly. Bake for 25 to 30 mins. Meanwhile, you can prep the gravy by heating oil in a medium pot over low heat.
- Add onion and cook until soft before adding the mushrooms and thyme and cook until golden.
- Add the flour and mix in before adding the sauces and spices and mix well.
- Next, slowly add the milk whisking as you go.
- Then add the stock and bring to a simmer while you keep whisking until it thickens.
- Finally, add the nutritional yeast and more salt if needed. Add some extra water if too thick.
