Lentil & Brazil Nut Roast with Sage & Onion Stuffing and Red Wine Gravy
I know, I know, the nut roast has had a bad press over the years. But thankfully the days of dried out bits of tasteless, hard, leathery tack are long gone. This lentil & Brazil nut roast is a perfect vehicle for all those delicious Christmas roast accompaniments, not forgetting the stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce. It also stops the vegetarians and vegans feeling excluded in a mixed meal.
I’ve teamed up with Cranks and the Vegetarian Society to extol the wonders of nut roasts and other alternatives to the big bird during the festive season. Eating more vegetables helps us all in our quest to be as healthy as possible; those leafy vegetables like cabbage and Brussels sprouts are full of vitamins minerals and phytonutrients. Don’t worry about those unpronounceable names – they’re great for your metabolism if not your vocabulary. Even the humble spud is a powerhouse, nutritionally speaking.
For those wanting to reduce their intake of meat there are many delicious options out there. Take a look at the Cranks Kitchen winter menu for some inspiration. I’m very much hoping I’ll be able to make it up there for a meal myself in the next week or two. The apple, cashew and parsnip burger served with a plum ginger sauce has my name written all over it.
Nut Roast
I’ve been eating and enjoying homemade nut roasts for many years. In fact I’m a big fan and enjoy it more than ever I did the roast meat. The combination of lentils and nuts is probably my favourite. It makes for a moist loaf which has a bit of bite, but isn’t too chewy. I’ll happily add eggs to my nut roast to help with binding and to give additional nutrition, but they are not necessary and I’ve omitted them in this lentil & brazil nut roast recipe to keep it vegan and thus more inclusive.
Lentil & Brazil Nut Roast with Sage & Onion Stuffing & Red Wine Gravy
This lentil & Brazil nut roast is easy to make and very tasty. CT and other non-vegetarian friends and family have all tucked into it with gusto. The lentils provide substance and moisture and the nuts provide substance and flavour. I’ve used walnuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts or a mixture. All are subtly different, but all are good. I’ve included a sage and onion stuffing here to make it a little bit extra special for Christmas. The red wine gravy is rich and adds a note of festivity to the occasion. It’s also full of resveratrol, but hey, what did I just say about all those hard to pronounce phytonutrients?
Top Tips for Making Your Nut Roast
I’ve made many a nut roast over the years and eaten many more. Here are a few top tips for making your nut roast.
- It should first and foremost not be dry. Dry nut roasts are just horrible. But be careful not to make it too wet either, or it won’t hold together. You don’t want a dollop of sludge on the plate.
- Don’t use whole nuts. Your nut roast needs a good, but not overly chewy texture and lumps of hard nuts can be off putting.
- A rich umami flavour is paramount and I find adding a slug of good soy sauce such as tamari or shoyu really helps.
- You can use an egg to help bind the mixture, but omitting this means that vegans can partake of the meal too.
- 8 oz 225g whole brown lentils
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 celery stick - finely chopped
- 2 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil
- 1 onion - finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - finely chopped
- 5 oz 150g Brazil nuts - ground
- 4 oz 120g wholemeal breadcrumbs (I used rye sourdough with linseeds)
- 4 tbsp tomato passata
- 1 tbsp tamari or other good quality soy sauce
- 1 tsp balsamic viniger
- 1 tsp herbes de Provence
- a good grinding of black pepper
- 2 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil
- 1 onion
- 8 sage leaves - finely chopped
- 2 oz 60g wholemeal breadcrumbs (I used rye sourdough)
- a pinch of sea salt
- a grind of black pepper
- 1 heaped tsp brewers yeast powder or nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 heaped tbsp plain flour
- 1 clove garlic - finely chopped
- 300-350 ml vegetable water any water the vegetables have cooked in
- 150 ml red wine
- 1 tsp English mustard
- 1 tsp redcurrant jelly
- 1 tsp tamari
- Soak the lentils overnight in plenty of water. Give them a good rinse, then just cover with fresh clean water. Bring to the boil, add the bay leaf and celery and simmer covered for about 1/2 an hour until soft and the liquid has been absorbed. If you've added too much water, you may need to drain it off as the mixture shouldn't be too wet.
- Fry the onions gently for about ten minutes, then add the garlic and continue frying until the onions are soft and translucent.
- Remove the bay leaf from the lentils and mix in the onions together with the remaining ingredients.
- Pack half the mixture into a 2lb silicone loaf tin or tin lined with baking paper.
- Scatter the stuffing mixture over the top, then spoon in the remaining lentil mixture, pressing down to compact and create a smooth surface.
- Bake in the middle or bottom of a hot oven for about 40 minutes (180℃-200℃), depending on what else you have in there.
- Fry the onions gently in the oil for 10-15 minutes until soft and translucent. This can be done at the same time as frying the onions for the nut roast.
- Add the sage and breadcrumbs and fry for a further 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the salt and pepper
- Toast the nutritional yeast and flour in a medium pan over moderate heat for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and stir.
- Slowly add the stock and wine whisking as you go to avoid any lumps. Keep whisking until the mixture has thickened and is lump free. You may want to add more stock at this stage, depending on how thick you like your gravy.
- Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for five minutes or so, stirring occasionally until the flour is cooked out.
Best to get the lentils soaking the night before you need them. The longer they soak, the more digestible they become.
Can also be served with a tangy tomato sauce.
Linkies
This lentil and Brazil nut roast goes off to Jac at Tinned Tomatoes for Meat Free Mondays.
Other nut roast recipes you might like
- Carrot and cashew nut roast via Amuse Your Bouche
- Chestnut and cashew nut roast via Thinly Spread
- Stilton nut roast via the queen of nut roasts at Green Gourmet Giraffe
- Stuffed cashew nut roast via The Gluten Free Alchemist
Keep in Touch
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this lentil and Brazil nut roast, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or via social media. Do share a photo on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot it. For more delicious and nutritious recipes, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
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With the festive season just starting, I’m getting in the mood. Chilling out with a glass of very chilled sherry, as I write my Christmas cards.
A glorious December day watching the boats and birds and listening to the haunting sound of masts and rigging moaning in the wind.
If you thought sherry was just for Christmas, you’d be wrong. I’ve been enjoying it quite a lot recently, cold with plenty of ice and a slice of orange. That’s the new way to serve it, apparently and I heartily approve. In fact the Spanish have been keeping their sherry in the fridge for a long time now - I’m only just catching up.
Chocolate Recipes Galore
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
15th December 2015
This sounds great, I love a good nut roast. It’s great to find veggie main courses that go so well with roast potatoes and gravy 😀
Choclette
15th December 2015
Exactly Becca. I hate it when you get a virtual veggie meal in itself for Christmas dinner and don’t really feel you can tuck into all the other bits and pieces.
Chris @thinlyspread
15th December 2015
I’m loving the collection of nut roasts across our foodie blogs all drawn together by Cranks 🙂 This looks particularly delicious and would go down a treat with my vegan boy as well as the veggie rest of us!
Choclette
15th December 2015
Thanks Chris. I had a hard time finding any nut roasts to link to when I did my post, so it’s good we’re getting a few more recipes out there. I’ll be hopping over to have a look at yours in a mo.
Dom
15th December 2015
I’m a huge nut roast fan. This looks so good and packed full of loveliness. I’m not doing a nut roast this year but a veggie raised pie but this would be coming in a close second. x
Choclette
15th December 2015
Ooh, a veggie raised pie sounds rather good too Dom. But you always produce something wonderful I feel rather desperate to share 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
15th December 2015
I don’t understand why nut roast has such a bad reputation, because I love it! Yours looks delicious too. I will be making some over Christmas.
Choclette
15th December 2015
I think it’s from back in the day Dannii when if you ate a nut roast in a cafe or restaurant, it was pretty dire. I’ve had some awful ones in my time. Lots of good ones too of course 😉
Glamorous Glutton
15th December 2015
I’ve not tried a nut roast since the bad press days. Actually almost all our cooking was pretty dreadful in the 70s, but the nut roast didn’t get a later reprieve. This sounds delicious and as I’ve always been a lover of lentils I’m sure this would be great. GG
Choclette
15th December 2015
Haha GG, I think it’s time you tried one again 😉
Platter Talk
15th December 2015
I’ve never had a nut roast before; it looks savory and wonderful; thanks for sharing!
Choclette
15th December 2015
I’ve just had some of it for supper again tonight and I can confirm it’s savoury and wonderful 🙂
LydiaF
15th December 2015
I haven’t used Brazil nuts for any type of veggie loaf or burger. Now I feel like I’ve been missing out. I’ll definitely pick some up when I come across them!
Choclette
15th December 2015
Brazil nuts just have to be tried Lydia 😉
Sammie
15th December 2015
Can I just say I am a meat eater. I don’t eat a lot of meat, in fact as a family we can make a medium free range chicken last at least 2 days. I love my veggies, including brussels, brussel tops and kale and I would happily sit down and eat this for my dinner. It looks so inviting and sounds delicious. I really would like to try and make this, maybe post Christmas when I can use up all the leftover nuts, assuming there are any! I do think it is important for meat eaters, not only to limit their meat intake and try meatless meals, but also to cater considerately for vegans and vegetarians. If I were cooking for a group and a couple weren’t partakers of meat, everyone would be served this nut roast. So important to be inclusive and all eat together. Fab post. Sammie.
Choclette
15th December 2015
Ah thanks Sammie, you are lovely. CT eats meat, but is happy to only eat veggie at home. I think it would be good if people just ate a bit less and realised there are lots of tasty alternatives out there.
genna st michael
15th December 2015
Thanks for the inspiration, I was thinking of just bunging a nut cutlet in the oven for me this year as the rest of the family will have meat – but now I reckon I’ll give this recipe a go. It sounds delicious!
Choclette
15th December 2015
No, no, don’t just bung in a nut cutlet! Do give this a go. You can always make a smaller quantity and it’s absolutely fine reheated up to a couple of days later.
nazima
15th December 2015
I can imagine this makes a lovely and filling main course for a roast dinner and the flavours sound delicious. Yum!
Choclette
16th December 2015
Thanks Nazima. It’s such a flexible recipe, the flavourings can easily be tailored to suit.
Tracy @ Served from Scratch
16th December 2015
I’ve never had a nut roast before – and I feel like I’m totally missing out! Will have to add this to my must try list!!
Choclette
16th December 2015
Haha, thanks Tracy. If your must try list is anything like as long as mine, you might make it in a decade or so 😉
Nellie
16th December 2015
This is a really great meat alternative recipe perfect for the holiday’s! A lot of flavors and textures makes this sound far from boring! Well done!
Choclette
16th December 2015
Thanks Nellie. I can honestly say that having eaten it three days on the trot, neither of us are bored of it yet 😉
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe
16th December 2015
Yay for nut roasts – christmas would not be christmas without one – so much good stuff in them and lovely to see you extoll their virtues – your nut roast sounds great and I always love the idea of stuffing in one – thanks for featuring one of my nut roasts too
Choclette
16th December 2015
I am with you 100 percent Johanna. Having found something I really like, I tend to just do variations on a theme, but I really must branch out and try one of yours one day.
Sara @ Life's Little Sweets
16th December 2015
I love how the stuffing is shaped, it makes for a lovely presentation, especially for the holidays, thank you for sharing this recipe!
Choclette
16th December 2015
Thanks Sara. Roll on the holidays I say 🙂
Alida @My Little Italian Kitchen
16th December 2015
A nut roast is a brilliant idea for vegetarians and non. Nuts are very tasty and this recipe looks really good. Very nice!
Choclette
16th December 2015
Thanks Alida. Everyone I know who’s tried it has liked it 🙂
Janie
16th December 2015
Never, ever had a homemade nut roast, even after 8 year of being veggie. However I do vaguely remember something in a can that I’m pretty sure called itself a nut roast, and I’m pretty sure I never even opened as it looked beyond gross!
That said, there is nothing in your ingredients list that I don’t absolutely love so I’m actually quite excited about popping my nut roast cherry 😉
Janie x
Choclette
16th December 2015
I’m finding this post a real eye opener as to how many vegetarians have never tried a nut roast. Go on Janie, give it a go, you know you want to 😉
Claudia | Gourmet Project
16th December 2015
I’ve never done a nut roast before, but thanks to you I will soon!
Choclette
16th December 2015
Oh, I do hope so Claudia – I love them 🙂
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
16th December 2015
Been wanting to try some more exciting nut roast recipes this xmas so will bookmark this to try.
Choclette
16th December 2015
We had it three nights in a row Bintu and I’m already missing it 😉
Ali @ Home & Plate
16th December 2015
Your nut roast has all the right tips to turn out perfectly. Looks wonderful and perfect for the holidays.
Choclette
17th December 2015
Thanks Ali. This nut roast looks good on any Christmas table and it tastes very good too.
Jessica
17th December 2015
I haven’t had nut roast before, but I’m definitely intrigued! I love that you’ve created a healthier main dish!
Choclette
17th December 2015
Thanks Jessica. it’s always good to try new things, because you just never know … 😉
Diana
17th December 2015
This looks AMAZING! Very healthy and must be very delicious too!
Choclette
17th December 2015
It is delicious Diana. Having eaten it three nights on the trot, I’m sort of missing it now 😉
Nayna Kanabar
17th December 2015
This looks delicious and very moist. I would not mind this for xmas dinner.
Choclette
17th December 2015
Thanks Nayna. I wouldn’t mind it for my Christmas dinner either. My mother is cooking this year, but I expect I will get something equally delicious.
All That I'm Eating
17th December 2015
I love a nut roast, really handy tips you’ve given there too about the size of the nuts. Always good with plenty of gravy!
Choclette
17th December 2015
I’m glad there are a few nut roast fans coming out of the woodwork – the concept needs reviving 😉
Fiona @ London-Unattached
17th December 2015
Glad Cranks are talking to you! I’ve not heard anything from them. I have to admit I’ve never ever eaten nut roast. I WILL try, but probably not for Christmas day (actually I’m not cooking!)
Choclette
17th December 2015
Haha Fiona, I would be most surprised if you ended up eating a nut roast for your Christmas dinner. But it really is worth trying at some point.
Abida
18th December 2015
Yes, I will admit that nut roasts conjure up memories of tasteless school dinners! However, my tastes have changed a lot now and I love lentils so would love to try this out.
Choclette
18th December 2015
Haha Abida, you were lucky. We had nothing as exotic as nut roasts at school 😉
Donna
18th December 2015
Oh I need to try this out! Last time I made a nut roast, it was less than stellar, so I need to redeem myself, and this sounds like it would do the job 🙂
Choclette
19th December 2015
Oh what a shame Donna. It’s so frustrating when we make something and it doesn’t go according to plan. Hope you fare better with this one.
Kate - gluten free alchemist
18th December 2015
I love a good nut roast and this one looks amazing. Bookmarked!
Choclette
19th December 2015
Well I must say your nut roast looks amazing Kate. I hope you didn’t mind me linking to it.
Kate - gluten free alchemist
23rd December 2015
Ooops! I’m so sorry Choclette! I managed to miss that….. Thank you so much xxx
Choclette
24th December 2015
It looks like a fab recipe Kate. Merry Christmas 🙂
Lesley @ Cheap Vegetarian Meals
20th December 2015
I was looking for a perfect nut roast to serve at my vegetarian Christmas dinner at home this year and this looks absolutely delicious! I have cashew nuts at the ready so I might have to substitute, but you have definitely inspired me. Thanks for sharing!
Choclette
20th December 2015
Thanks Lesley, I’m so glad. I’ve made this with cashews before and they work really well too. Merry Christmas 🙂
Tracey Mitchell
3rd January 2016
I am always prepareing vegetables so these knifes would be very useful especially with the swede as these are very tough .