Meaty Lentil Loaf Food

VEGAN LENTIL NUT "MEAT" LOAF

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line a standard loaf pan (or 8x8-inch baking pan) with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Heat a large cast-iron or metal skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the oil and mushrooms and season with a pinch each salt and pepper and the coconut aminos or vegan Worcestershire. Sauté, stirring frequently, for 5-8 minutes or until caramelized. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat another large cast-iron or metal skillet (or use the same one as you cooked the mushrooms in) over medium heat. Once hot, add oil and arrange sweet potatoes in as even of a layer as possible. Then cover and cook for 4 minutes or until golden brown on the underside. Flip, add 3 Tbsp (45 ml) water, and cover. Cook for another 3-4 minutes or until tender and browned (but not mushy). Set aside uncovered to cool slightly.
• To a large (at least 7-cup) food processor, add nuts and pulse a few times into a loose meal. Then add sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and thyme, and pulse to combine. Lastly, add lentils, salt, and pepper and pulse to loosely combine but be careful not to purée.
• Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl and add tomato paste and coconut aminos or vegan Worcestershire and stir until a loose dough forms. Then add bread crumbs (we like Ian's gluten-free panko) a little at a time (we used all of the recommended amount) until a thick dough forms. If for some reason it's crumbly (which may happen depending on the texture of your lentils), scoop half of the mixture back into the food processor and pulse until it's more finely puréed and then return back to the bowl and stir with the remaining mixture. If for some reason it's too wet, add more bread crumbs as needed.
• Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more tomato paste for added moisture / tomato flavor, coconut aminos or vegan Worcestershire for depth of flavor, salt for saltiness, or thyme to taste.
• Transfer the mixture to the parchment-lined loaf pan, spread, and press into an even layer (to avoid a crumbly loaf, tap pan on counter to settle the mixture and place parchment paper on top and press down firmly with a drinking glass or flat bottomed object to pack it well). Then add ketchup glaze (optional but adds plenty of flavor) and spread into an even layer. If not using the glaze, brush the top with a little oil to help the loaf retain moisture.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until golden brown on the edges and slightly dry to the touch. Remove from oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes in the pan. Then gently remove and carefully slice and serve.
• Leftovers keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer. Reheat in the microwave or in a 350-F (176 C) oven until warmed through.

MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onions, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not brown. Off the heat, add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Allow to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs, and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meat loaf will be dense. Shape the mixture into a rectangular loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F and the meat loaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven, under the meat loaf, will keep the top from cracking.) Serve hot.

DELICIOUS LENTIL LOAF

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups water and lentils in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover saucepan, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed and lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Mix 1/3 cup water and ground flax seed together in a bowl; set aside until thickened, at least 10 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat; cook and stir onion, mushrooms, celery, and garlic until softened and liquid from mushrooms has evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan.
• Transfer cooked lentils to a food processor and pulse until about 75 percent of lentils are mashed. Mix onion-mushroom mixture, flax seed-water mixture, oats, flour, basil, black pepper, salt, and onion powder into lentils until well combined. Press lentil mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
• Combine ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and barbeque sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook and stir until glaze is smooth and brown sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.
• Bake loaf in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Spread 1/4 cup glaze over lentil loaf; continue baking until cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve lentil loaf with remaining glaze on the side.

LENTIL LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil a large loaf pan and line with parchment paper, then set aside.
• Soak the lentils in hot water while you prep the vegetables. Pour the vegetable oil into a large saucepot on medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and potatoes. Add the granulated garlic, salt, pepper and chile flakes. Saute until the vegetables begin to soften, stirring frequently. Drain the lentils, and add to the pot along with the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are very soft and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 1 hour. Remove from the heat and let rest, covered, for 30 minutes.
• Add the tamari, poultry seasoning, hot sauce and crackers to the lentil mix. Combine with the eggs and Cheddar. Spoon into the prepared loaf pan. Bake until the top begins to crack and the loaf is firm to the touch, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Add the Tangy Tomato Sauce to the top in the last 15 minutes.
• Combine the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and hot sauce in a small saucepot. Heat on medium heat until hot and bubbly.

MEATLOAF WITH LENTILS AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sautee garlic, onions and carrots until just tender.
• Mix cooked vegetables, meat, lentils, bread crumbs, egg, and stock until combined.
• Grease baking dish or spray with cooking spray.
• Press mixture into dish.
• Optional: if topping with a sauce, like tomato or BBQ sauce, it can be added now. Alternatively, you could wait until after it is cooked.
• Bake 30 minutes, or until cooked all the way through.
• Optional: broil the loaf for 5 minutes to brown the top.

LENTIL WALNUT "NO MEAT" LOAF

Steps:

• Method: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease 8-9 inch loaf pan with oil or cooking spray and set aside.
• Bring vegetable broth to a boil and add lentils. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 25-30 minutes until lentils are tender and most or all of the liquid is absorbed. Drain any excess liquid and transfer to a large bowl to cool. Note: It' important to let them cool or they will be too mushy when mashed.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet and add onion and celery, saute over medium heat 3 minutes. Add potatoes, garlic, poultry seasoning, and pepper and continue cooking 3-5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat.
• With a potato masher, mash cooled lentils (not to the point of being pureed). Add vegetable mixture and continue to mash to combine. Next add the remaining ingredients and mix in - using your hands works best.
• Transfer to loaf pan and press the mixture in, smoothing out the top so it's even.
• Bake for 25-30minutes or until top and edges look lightly browned.

LENTIL OAT LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Mix lentils, onion, oats, and cheese in a large bowl and mix well.
• Add the beaten egg and mix well.
• Add about 1/2 c of sauce, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper. Add remaining sauce so long as the mixture will not be too sloppy.
• Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and pour/scrape the lentil mixture into it. Even out the top surface with a spatula or fork.
• Bake uncovered 30-40 minutes or until top is golden and crispy.
• Let cool at least 5 minutes.
• Turn out onto serving platter and garnish with parsley, if desired.
• Variations:.
• Add chopped celery, different sauces, different cheeses (or no cheese!) or try more traditional poultry spices instead of the Italian ones. Serve with all the 'fixins: mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, and salad.

"MEATY" LENTIL LOAF

Steps:

• Combine lentils, water, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 30 minites. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• While lentils are cooking, chop up all veggies and combine in mixing bowl with basil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Once lentils are done cooking, drain any excess water and mash lentils with the back of a fork. They need to be mashed up so that the loaf holds it's shape, but it is ok to have some texture still, don't over mash.
• Add the mashed lentils and the rolled oats into the bowl of veggies and mix together (if you want to add cheese, this is the time).
• Mix in the beaten egg.
• In a separate bowl mix together equal parts tomato sauce and barbeque sauce, once mixed add half to the lentil and veggie mix and stir together until combined well.
• Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray and fill with lentil mixture, spreading evenly and pressing down slightly.
• Pour remaining barbeque/tomato sauce mixture over the top of the loaf.
• Bake 40-45 minutes. Once done, let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

REALLY GOOD VEGETARIAN MEATLOAF (REALLY!)

Steps:

• Add salt to water and boil in a saucepan.
• Add lentils and simmer covered 25-30 minutes, until lentils are soft and most of water is evaporated.
• Remove from fire.
• Drain and partially mash lentils.
• Scrape into mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly.
• Stir in onion, oats and cheese until mixed.
• Add egg, tomato sauce, garlic, basil, parsley, seasoning salt and pepper.
• Mix well.
• Spoon into loaf pan that has been generously sprayed with Pam (non-stick cooking spray) or well-greased.
• Smooth top with back of spoon.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30- 45 minutes until top of loaf is dry, firm and golden brown.
• Cool in pan on rack for about 10 minutes.
• Run a sharp knife around edges of pan then turn out loaf onto serving platter.