Getting experimental with a Lentil Walnut Loaf

I’ve really been in the mood for a big roast dinner, with a loaf, roast veggies and gravy. I’ve also been on a bit of a walnut bender – I’ve been adding them to almost everything, so I wanted one that used walnuts, but also rice and red lentils. I searched around a bit but couldn’t find a recipe that had everything I wanted, so I decided to take the risk and make up my own.

I’m more than happy to make it up when it comes to things that don’t have to hold together, but when it comes to baking or patties, I tend to stick pretty closely to a recipe. I was feeling brave, or maybe it was reckless, but whichever, it paid off. It worked, and it was good! So here it is:

Lentil Walnut Loaf

Red Lentil and Walnut Loaf

Ingredients
1 large onion, finely diced
1 small carrot, finely diced
1 small zucchini, grated
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup red lentils, cooked in 2 cups veggie stock or water
1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp pepper (or to taste)
1 tbsp Braggs or soy sauce
2 tbsp water
olive oil
handful of fresh chopped herbs (oregano, basil & parsley)
few tablespoons of passata to top

Lentil Walnut Loaf sliced

Method
Finely dice the onion and carrot – I used my mini processor – and grate the zucchini. Heat some olive oil in a frypan and add the onion, carrot and garlic and fry over a low heat for a few minutes. Then add the zucchini, walnuts, dried herbs, and pepper, and cook for a few more minutes, until the veggies are softening and nearly cooked. Next add the breadcrumbs, rice, and Braggs, and mix it all together really well. Finally add the cooked red lentils, and the extra water, and mix it all together thoroughly. You may need to add a little more water if it seems dry.

Spoon the mixture into a well-greased loaf pan and top with the passata. Cover the top with foil and put in a pre-heated oven at 190°C for 30 mins. Then remove the foil and cook for another 30 mins, until it’s browned and crispy on top, and a skewer comes out clean. When you take it out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes before trying to get it out of the pan. Slice it up and serve with roast veggies and gravy, or salad or chips, or whatever you fancy. We had it with roast potato, sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin and beetroot, plus peas, corn and broccoli, and a garlic and rosemary gravy.

Hopefully I haven’t left anything out!

Lentil Walnut Loaf with Roast Veggies and gravy