A delicious and easy-to-make lentil loaf, for a meat-free but "meat-y" alternative, great for roast dinners, Sunday lunch and Christmas main. It's also naturally gluten-free!
If you're looking for an easy, healthy, inexpensive and delicious veggie main for Christmas or Sunday lunch, this lentil loaf ticks those boxes.
As well as being plant-based, this lentil & bean loaf is both gluten-free and nut-free for those who can't (or don't like to) eat nut roasts.
Plus a soy-free option.
With a combination of beans, lentils, vegetables and oats, you are left with a firm yet tender and "meat-y" texture, without having to use any faux meat!
Lentil Loaf Ingredients
This vegan loaf uses very low-cost and easy-to-find ingredients that you'll be able to get from your local store and likely already have most of these things in your cupboard.
- Vegetable oil
- Onion, garlic, portobello mushrooms and carrot
- 1 x tin of kidney beans - Other beans or chickpeas will also work.
- 1 x tin of lentils - Green or puy lentils work well. You can also cook the lentils from dried beforehand. Use approx 100g dried lentils (cooked according to packet's instructions before adding to this recipe).
- Soy sauce - Use tamari sauce for a gluten-free version or coconut aminos for a soy-free version.
- Mixed dried herbs - In the UK, mixed dried herbs consist of equal parts Marjoram, Basil, Oregano and Thyme. This is easy to make yourself or you can buy something like ‘Italian Seasoning’ with a similar herb mix.
- (Optional) Nutritional yeast - Adds more flavour and nutrition but is totally fine to leave out, if you prefer.
- Salt and pepper - Add to suit your own taste.
- Oats - Use gluten-free, if needed. Rolled or porridge oats is fine.
Step-by-Step
Prepare ingredients.
Preheat the oven, line a 2L loaf tin and prepare the vegetables.
Dice the onion and garlic.
Chop the Mushrooms into small pieces and grate the carrot.
Sauté the vegetables.
Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil.
Then add in the vegetables, to soften.
Mix and mash.
Tip in the rest of the ingredients for the vegetable loaf.
Mash together until you have a thick, chunky mixture.
You can also use a food processor but be careful not to over-blend as we want it to remain chunky.
Add to tin and bake!
Press the mixture into your prepared loaf tin.
Use the back of a spoon to press down firmly and smooth the top.
Bake for 40-45 minutes.
Allow to cool in the tin for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Make the gravy.
Sauté the onion with sugar for approx 10 minutes until caramelised.
Add the arrowroot powder/corn starch and stir until dissolved.
Pour in the wine, balsamic vinegar and tamari sauce and simmer until the stock is reduced by half.
Add the vegetable stock and simmer again for 10 minutes until you are left with a thick, dark gravy.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve a couple of slices of the lentil loaf with roast vegetables (or whatever you like!) and pour a generous serving of gravy on top. Enjoy :-)
Video
📖 Recipe
Lentil Loaf with Balsamic Onion Gravy
This meat-free, gluten-free and nut-free dish is perfect for roast dinners and Christmas day!
Ingredients
For the lentil loaf
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, minced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 medium portobello mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot grated
- 400 g tin of cooked kidney beans, rinsed
- 400 g tin of cooked puy lentils, rinsed
- 1 tbsp gluten-free tamari soy sauce, or coconut aminos for a soy-free version
- 2 tbsp mixed dried herbs
- 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
- Black pepper, to taste
- 135 g rolled oats, (gluten-free, if needed)
For the balsamic onion gravy
- 1 low-salt vegetable stock cube
- 1 medium onion, finely sliced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar*
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder or corn starch
- 200 ml red wine
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsp soy sauce (use tamari sauce for gluten-free)*
Instructions
To make the lentil loaf
- Preheat oven to 180c / 350f and line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the onion and garlic until soft. Add the mushroom and carrot and cook for another 5 minutes until softened.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and use a masher to combine. Don't over-mash, just enough so that the mixture comes together. Add a drop of water if the mixture is too dry, if it's too wet, add more oats.
- Transfer the mixture into the loaf tin and cook for 40-45 minutes until the outside develops a crust and the inside is firm..
To make the gravy
- Prepare half a litre of vegetable stock with the stock cube and set aside.
- Add the oil to a frying pan and sauté the onion with the coconut sugar for 10 minutes.
- Once it's caramelised, add the arrowroot powder to the pan and stir for a few minutes to combine.
- Pour in the wine, balsamic vinegar and tamari sauce and simmer until the stock is reduced by half.
- Add the vegetable stock and simmer again for 10 minutes until you are left with a thick, dark gravy.
- Optional: for a smooth gravy, blend for a few minutes until no lumps remain. Serve with the lentil loaf and roast vegetables.
Notes
*Coconut sugar is an unrefined sugar with a great caramel flavour. You can also use any kind of brown sugar
*You can also use coconut aminos for a soy-free alternative
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 2 slices (⅙th recipe)Amount Per Serving Calories 269Total Fat 5.6gSaturated Fat 0.8gCarbohydrates 42.5gFiber 10.1gSugar 4.1gProtein 15.6g
Lisa Shipman says
Made this for Sunday Lunch today and this was by far the best veggie roast I have eaten! Simple to make but looks like you've spent hours in the kitchen - my kind of food!
Aimee says
Hi Lisa. So happy to hear that!! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it :)
Gina says
Made this for dinner tonight and it was amazing!! Our first Vegan roast! We are trying to change our diet more plant based to have less of an impact on our planet and I do love a roast but I couldn't bear to leave meat off my plate for a roast, but this was a delicious alternative and the gravy was so good I was digging in after the meal with my spoon for more more more!!! Will 100% be making this again, thank you so much for this recipe!
Aimee says
Hi Gina - I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you :)
Helen says
I made this for the first time for a dinner party last night and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it and many asked for the recipe. Thanks so much for sharing! I'll be making another tonight for our own dinner!
Jacob says
Your balsamic gravy is sensational! It really finished off our Xmas meal perfectly. Highly recommended, and the instructions in your recipe worked perfectly. We did blend it, and ended up with a beautiful silky result. Thank you
Aimee says
So pleased to hear that - thanks for the lovely comment, Jacob!
Nikki says
Hello i was wondering if i could make it say 6-7 days before christmas and freeze it would that work or should i make it and cook it straight away?
Aimee says
I'm not sure how it freezes, to be honest, but you can definitely make it a day or two beforehand and wrap in the fridge.
Zoe says
Hi, This looks amazing! I'm making this to take to my family on boxing day. Would you recommend cooking it a couple of days in advance, then reheating it up on the day? Or shall I prepare it beforehand then cook it on the day? Im aware of a busy kitchen and don't wish to get underfoot.
Aimee says
You can either make up the mixture in the loaf tin (without cooking) a day or two beforehand and just put in the oven on the day or just cook a couple of days before and re-heat. But if you choose to reheat make sure to cover in foil and maybe add a few drops of water to the tin to prevent it from drying out. Hope you enjoy!