The Finest Vegan Lentil Meatloaf

This scrumptious Vegan Meatloaf is made with hearty lentils, savory spices, and loads of greens. Filled with taste and satiating texture, it’s a satisfying anytime principal dish that even meat-eaters will love!

This recipe was written on March 25, 2021. It was up to date with extra recipe info on Could 31, 2024.

Whether or not you’re in search of a principal course for a special day or want a brand new weeknight dinner staple, this lentil meatloaf recipe is the right nourishing and scrumptious dish! You gained’t consider it’s a meatless meatloaf – it’s made with protein-rich lentils, toasted walnuts, a medley of contemporary greens, bread crumbs, a mix of spices, and topped with an irresistible tangy balsamic ketchup glaze.

This vegan meatloaf recipe makes an amazing centerpiece dish for particular events and is incredible as leftovers! Repurpose it for sandwiches or salads, flip it right into a hash, or just reheat it for a fast meal. 

For extra lentil-inspired principal dish recipes, take a look at my candy potato purple lentil curry, oyster mushroom purple lentil pasta alfredo, or vegan lentil soup.  

Elements

Inexperienced Lentils: Dry inexperienced or brown lentils present a protein-packed base for the veggie loaf. It’s also possible to substitute canned inexperienced or brown lentils; simply drain and rinse effectively. 

Floor Flax Meal: Used as a gelling binder when mixed with water to switch the necessity for eggs, making a agency texture for the perfect vegan lentil meatloaf. It’s also possible to swap chia seed meal for flax. 

Grapeseed Oil: This impartial oil is ideal for sautéing the greens to reinforce the flavour of the lentil loaf. You’ll be able to substitute with olive, avocado, or one other impartial oil. 

Yellow Onion: Provides a savory depth of taste. Finely cube it for even cooking and distribution within the vegan loaf. Alternatively, use shallots or white onions. 

Celery: Supplies a refined crunch and delicate peppery taste. Finely cube it for uniformity within the veggie meatloaf. In search of a unique veggie taste? Substitute inexperienced bell peppers or leeks. 

Garlic: Provides the loaf an fragrant depth of taste. Recent garlic cloves are greatest for essentially the most sturdy style. If desired, substitute chopped bottled garlic however the taste gained’t be as naturally candy.

Carrot: Provides sweetness and scrumptious moisture to the meatloaf. Finely shred them to mix effectively into the combination.

Child Bella Mushrooms: Present an umami taste and meaty texture. Alternatively, use white button mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, or your favourite selection. 

Dried Thyme: Provides the lentil meatloaf an earthy, herbaceous observe. For a good brisker taste, you should use double the quantity of contemporary thyme. 

Fennel Seeds: The refined licorice taste enhances the loaf’s general style. For those who don’t just like the style, you may omit them or change them with caraway seeds. 

Dietary Yeast: Supplies a tacky, nutty taste, important to the style of the vegetarian meatloaf. Search for it within the well being meals part of the grocery retailer. 

Walnuts: Toasted walnuts add a satisfying crunch and wealthy, nutty taste. Alternatively, swap for pecans, almonds, or a mixture of desired nuts. 

Breadcrumbs: They act as a binder for the perfect vegan meatloaf. Relying in your dietary restrictions, you should use common or gluten-free breadcrumbs. Go for unflavored. 

Purple Chili Flakes: That is an non-obligatory ingredient so as to add a bit of warmth, to style. Alternatively, cayenne pepper might be substituted. 

Balsamic Vinegar: Provides sweetness and acidity to the meatloaf glaze. Alternatively, you should use apple cider vinegar with a contact of maple syrup. 

Ketchup: Acts as the bottom of the glaze for the lentil loaf recipe, including a tangy sweetness. Use your favourite model, natural if doable.

How one can Make Vegan Meatloaf

• Put together Lentils. Carry 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over excessive warmth. Add the lentils, partially cowl the pan with a lid, and prepare dinner till tender, for about 30 to 45 minutes. Stir midway by. Drain the cooked lentils and put aside. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and put aside.

• Put together Flax. Combine the flax seed meal and ½ cup water in a small bowl. Set it apart to thicken for at the very least 3 minutes.

• Put together Aromatics. Warmth the oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and sauté for about 3 minutes, stirring regularly, till the onion softens.

• Sauté Greens. Add the shredded carrot and mushrooms, sautéing for about 5 minutes or till the mushrooms soften and launch their liquid.  

• Add Spices. Stir within the thyme and fennel seeds and proceed cooking for five minutes, stirring the combination often.

• Put together Meatloaf Combination. As soon as the mushrooms are mushy, take away the pan from the warmth and switch the contents to a big mixing bowl. In case your skillet is massive sufficient, you may combine it proper within the pan as an alternative of transferring. Add the dietary yeast, cooked lentils, flax combination, minced walnuts, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Stir effectively to mix all of the elements. Add extra salt and pepper to style if desired.

• Switch To Pan. Scoop the meatloaf combination into the ready loaf pan and press it firmly into the pan.

• Put together the Glaze. In a bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar and ketchup till mixed. Unfold it evenly excessive of the vegan lentil loaf.

• Bake. Cowl the loaf pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake for half-hour or till the highest is agency to the contact. Cool the loaf for 10-20 minutes earlier than slicing. Take pleasure in scorching!

Recipe Professional-Ideas

• Correctly prepare dinner the lentils. Watch out to not overcook them, as they’ll turn into mushy. They need to maintain their form and be tender. 
• Soak the flaxseed meal. Enable the flaxseed meal and water combination to gel collectively for at the very least three minutes to thicken correctly. This helps bind the meatloaf collectively for the perfect texture. 
• Finely cube the veggies. Make sure that all greens are uniformly diced and evenly distributed all through the loaf. This helps type a uniform texture when baked. 
• Mix a part of the meatloaf combination. The meatloaf combination ought to stick collectively when mixed, but when it appears too crumbly, place about one cup of the combination right into a meals processor then stir the mash again into the skillet. Or use an immersion blender for 5-10 seconds or till a small portion is mixed to create a thicker consistency.
• Let it cool. The loaf ought to cool for 10-20 minutes earlier than slicing to agency up the feel. This can make it simpler to slice with out falling aside. 
• Double the recipe. This vegetarian meatloaf recipe is ideal for meal prep! Make two loaves and freeze one to take pleasure in ready-made meals later.

Serving Strategies

Vegan meatloaf is the last word consolation meals for a hearty lunch or dinner served with a few of our favourite recipes beneath: 

Storage Instructions

• Refrigeration: Enable the meatloaf to chill fully to room temperature, then wrap the whole loaf or particular person slices in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or an hermetic container. Refrigerate for as much as 7 days. 
• Freezing: Tightly wrap cooled meatloaf or particular person slices in a freezer-safe hermetic container or a big freezer bag and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw frozen meatloaf in a single day within the fridge. 
• Reheating: Heat the entire loaf or leftover slices within the oven on a baking sheet coated with foil or parchment at 350ºF for 15-20 minutes, or within the microwave for 1-2 minutes till heated.

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