Vegan Lentil Meatloaf
Vegan lentil meatloaf is a flavorful and delicious! It's a dish that offers a plant-based twist on the classic comfort food. Made with cooked lentils, mushrooms, and flavorful seasonings, this dish is a protein-rich and nutritious. Lentil meatloaf is baked in a loaf pan, resulting in a hearty and wholesome meal that can be sliced and served as a main course. Whether you're a vegan or simply looking for a delicious meatloaf alternative, this vegan lentil meatloaf recipe is sure to impress.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cooked brown lentils (or green), drained
- 1 cups rolled oats, uncooked
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or oat flour)
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup vegetable broth (or water) - adjust a tablespoon at a time as needed
- 1 medium onion. finely diced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, diced finely
- 2 clove garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional for smoky flavor)
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
(optional) Tomato Glaze
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos or tamari (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Sauté mushrooms in oil in a skillet for 5 minutes over medium- high heat to release moisture Then add in onion and celery for another 5 minutes. Then add garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant. Take off heat and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the cooked lentils, mushrooms, onions, oats, breadcrumbs, arrowroot, ketchup, soy sauce, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add in paprika, nutritional yeast and cayenne if using these options. Mix together well. For more blended loaf use a food processor to pulse to blend or hand immersion blender to blend to desired texture. Note: Add the vegetable broth or water a little at a time, using enough to create a moist mixture that holds together when pressed.
- Transfer the loaf mixture into a pre-oiled loaf pan, or use a loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Gently press mixture into pan and rock to settle in pan.
- Bake for 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. (see optional step below if using glaze0
- Let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
(Optional Step for Glazing Top of Loaf)
- If you'd like to glaze your loaf, mix together well the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Then let the lentil meatloaf bake for about 20 - 25 minutes (about half way done) and then take out of oven. Add the glaze to the top and gently spread evenly with a spoon. Then put back into the oven to continue baking another 25 - 30 minutes.