Description
Hearty vegetable lentil loaf brings comfort and nutrition to dinner tables everywhere. Rich Mediterranean-inspired ingredients combine effortlessly for a satisfying plant-based meal you’ll want to share with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (590 ml) vegetable broth (or water)
- 1 cup dry lentils (green or brown)
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms
- 1 cup finely chopped celery
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free alternative)
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed (or 2 tbsps chia seeds)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (vegan if needed)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsps maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)
Instructions
- Purification: Meticulously rinse lentils under cascading cool water, eliminating all foreign particles and ensuring pristine quality.
- Liquid Foundation: Nestle lentils into a medium saucepan, enveloping them with savory vegetable broth to create a robust cooking environment.
- Thermal Activation: Elevate heat to trigger a vigorous boil, then immediately transition to a subtle, controlled simmer that gently coaxes the lentils to tender perfection.
- Culinary Transformation: Allow lentils to luxuriate in the aromatic broth, absorbing deep flavors and progressively softening without losing structural integrity.
- Textural Assessment: After 20-25 minutes, critically evaluate the lentils’ doneness – they should yield effortlessly when pressed, presenting a creamy yet structured consistency.
- Finishing Touch: Carefully extract saucepan from heat source, delicately straining any residual liquid through a fine-mesh sieve to preserve the lentils’ delicate composition.
- Resting Phase: Permit lentils to recuperate momentarily, enabling excess moisture to dissipate and ensuring a light, airy final texture ready for further culinary exploration.
Notes
- Rinse Thoroughly: Clear running water removes dirt and potential stones from lentils, preventing gritty texture in the final dish.
- Choose Right Broth: Vegetable broth enhances flavor depth; opt for low-sodium versions to control salt content and customize seasoning.
- Monitor Cooking Time: Watch lentils closely during simmering to avoid overcooking, which can transform texture from tender to mushy and compromise loaf structure.
- Drain Carefully: Use fine-mesh strainer to remove excess liquid without losing small lentil pieces, ensuring perfect moisture balance for binding ingredients.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg