Monday, April 14, 2008

A Neb at Nut Roast Event: Walnut and Mushroom Nut Roast


The lovely Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe is hosting an event called A Neb at Nut Roast. She loves nut roasts (a savoury vegetarian loaf made of nuts and other things that is kind of like meatloaf) and is wanting other people to share the love. I jumped on the chance to be a part of this, intrigued by the mysterious loaf. My adopted blogger, Holler, made a nut roast a couple of months ago and I was really interested to try my own.


Unfortunately I did not find a new and exciting recipe. I wanted to try out a recipe from Johanna's blog. A funny thing happened - I was telling my mom how I was going to make a nut roast and this was a great new adventure and exciting thing. Then she told me, didn't you make one of those years ago and how it was pretty good. I vaguely remember this nut loaf and couldn't remember where I possibly got the recipe from. Nut roast/loaf recipes are not something I've often come across in vegetarian cooking. Anyway I think I found it in 365 Ways to Cook Vegetarian.


So as my second nut roast experience, I know I'll definitely be making it again. I love one dish meals and this is perfect for that - with a salad or some random vegetable like broccoli on the side it's the perfect satisfying healthy meal. For me, I don't think it needs gravy or a sauce but I'm sure it would be yummy. I'll be making a nut roast for future Thanksgiving dinners and anytime meals. As for this particular nut roast, it was very tasty. Though I only remembered to add the soy milk halfway through the baking time, so that could account for it not sticking together at all. I loved the sunflower seeds, and I wasn't sure that I'd like the sun dried tomatoes because I sometimes find them too tangy, but they were a great addition.

Thanks Johanna for hosting this event and pushing me to try out a nut roast again! For those who want to participate, you have until Friday the 18th to make and post about your delicious nut roast.


Walnut and Mushroom Nut Roast
slightly adapted from Green Gourmet Giraffe who adapted it from Leah Leneman

1 tsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
200g mushrooms, finely chopped
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup soy milk
1 cup dried whole wheat breadcrumbs
1 tbsp flaxseed meal
1/2 tsp fresh sage, chopped
1 cup basil, freeze dried*
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp A1 steak sauce**
sea salt to taste

Heat oil in large frypan. Sauté onion over medium heat until translucent. Add mushrooms and sauté an additional 5 minutes until mushrooms are cooked. (The recipe says tenderized but this just reminds me of meat too much. I also followed the recipe and just sautéed the onions and mushrooms together but I felt the onions needed more time than the mushrooms – although they were fine in the loaf.)

While the vegetables are sautéing you could dry fry walnuts until they smell roasted. Then process walnuts and sunflower seeds in food processor until coarsely ground.

Mix mushroom mixture, walnut mixture and remaining ingredients. Spoon into lined (with parchment paper or aluminum foil) loaf pan. Press the mixture into the tin with the back of a spoon. Bake in moderate oven for about 45 minutes. Stand 5 minutes.

*Fresh is of course better
**Original recipe calls for Worcestershire sauce but that has anchovies in it.

21 comments:

Silvia - Magnolia Wedding Planner said...

I'm not vegetarian but this roast looks really delicious!
very good i'll defently try it!
Have a good day!
Silvia

grace said...

this nut roast is a foreign concept to me, but i'm hooked! it sounds delicious and so satisfying, and i'm always game to try anything involving sun-dried tomatoes! thanks for the introduction. :)

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

I've made a nut-roast before, but it crumbled (made a good burrito filling, haha) - I LOVE how perfect and firm yours looks!! And the recipe is fabulous - thanks for sharing it!!

Sarah said...

Hmmm...despite my non-meat eating ways, I've always been somewhat reluctant to try nut roast. Possibly because it looks so "interesting". :) You might have convinced me to try it sometime though! It sounds good. Oh, also, have you ever used Worcestershire sauce w/o anchovies? I know I found a version a while ago but I can't remember the brand...

Johanna GGG said...

Thanks for your nut roast - it looks delicious in your photo (esp with broccoli which I love) - how funny that your mum remembered you making nut roast before and you didn't - maybe you are destined to make one every few years and feel like you are starting over again :-)

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

lovely blog site..am visiting for the first time and am impressed by the contents..greetings to you from botswana. walnut and mushroom nut roast, french lemon cream tart made very interesting readings. thanks for sharing.

Deborah said...

I've never even heard of a nut roast - probably because I'm not a vegetarian! It does sound intriguing, though - I just may have to give it a try!

Unknown said...

this looks really good! one day i'll definitely try making a nut loaf.

test it comm said...

A nut and mushroom roast sound great! I will have to try this!

LisaRene said...

Glad you had a positive nut roast experience :) I was pleased with the one I made for the roundup as well. Nut roasts will be a great way to use up leftover grains and veggies and it is nice to have something more substantial to eat that is not a meat substitute.

Lucy said...

Lovely recipe.

There's going to be so many new roasts to see in this round-up. Partcipating has really opened my eyes to the possiblities!

giz said...

I'm learning something totally new - I have never made a nut roast - I wouldn't even know how to serve it - is it like an energy bar? a side dish? I'm clueless.

winedeb said...

Never heard of a nut roast until I saw Johanna's posting. Yours looks great! I bet the sundried tomatoes give it a nice flavor and mushrooms...one can never go wrong adding mushrooms! Nice job!

Lisa Turner said...

My, that does look good. I'm starting to warm up to the idea of nut roast.

Nina Timm said...

A meatloaf could wish to compete with this delicious-looking nut loaf.Yum.

Mama Mia said...

wow, ive never had nutroast before... its like a nut meatloaf! I love nuts. I want to try this recipe in the near future.

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

I like the addition of sundried tomatoes to your loaf, I think I would like that too! What is steak sauce like Ashley?

Gloria Baker said...

I think look so delicious!!! Gloria

Carrie said...

this looks amazing!! i love the little specks of herbs...

Artifax said...

I'd never heard of nut roast, but it sounds wonderful! Very hearty and filling.

eatme_delicious said...

magnolia wedding planner: Thanks!

Grace: Hope you like it if you try it!

Veggiegirl: Oh mine wasn't firm at all! It's an illusion.

Sarah: I haven't looked for Worcestershire sauce without anchovies but yea I think I've seen it somewhere. It was just easier to get steak sauce.

Johanna: Haha well I'd like to make it more than every few years! :)

Anamika: Thanks. :)

Deborah: You should. :)

jeanette: Thanks!

Kevin: I look forward to seeing your nut roast!

LisaRene: I agree. I need to try out more nut roast recipes and be creative!

Lucy: Me too. :)

giz: It's a savoury main dish. :)

winedeb: The sundried tomatoes were quite good in it. Better than expected!

Lisa: I'm sure you would come up with something amazing if you made one.

Nina's Kitchen: Thanks. :)

Lina: Yea exactly like a nut meatloaf, but better!

Holler: Hm I don't know how to describe it. I haven't eaten any of it aside from when I added it to this nut roast, but I think it's similar to Worcestershire sauce. Similar ingredients.

Gloria: Thanks!

Carrie: Thanks!

Bejeweled: It is a great hearty and filling meal. :)