Amazing Nut Roast Recipe! - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

Description

This Nut Roast recipe is packed with a deliciously sweet and savory blend of nuts, veggies, lentils, dried fruit and fresh herbs. Serve with cranberry sauce and/or gravy and enjoy! (Please see notes above for possible ingredient modifications too.)

  • 1 cup (200 grams) green or brown lentils, picked over and rinsed
  • fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small white onion, peeled and finely diced
  • 1 large carrot, finely diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, cored and finely diced
  • 8 ounces (225 grams) baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped*
  • 4 large cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • 2 large handfuls baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 10 ounces (300 grams) mixed nuts, finely chopped*
  • 5 ounces (140 grams) dried apricots, finely chopped
  • zest and juice(about 1/4 cup) of 1 small orange
  • 3 eggs, whisked*

Instructions

  1. Cook the lentils.Combine the lentils with4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until the water reaches a vigorous simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain the simmer, cover and cook until the lentils are completely tender, about 20-30 minutes. Drain the lentils completely using a strainer, and set aside until later.
  2. Prep oven and bread pan.Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9 x 5-inch bread pan with parchment paper.
  3. Sauté the veggies and herbs.Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large sauté pan. Add the onion, carrot and bell pepper and sauté for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the mushrooms and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are softened and most of the liquid in the pan has evaporated. Add the spinach, sage, rosemary, smoked paprika, and thyme. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat.
  4. Combine all ingredients.In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked lentils, cooked veggie mixture, nuts, dried apricots, and orange juice and zest. Toss until the mixture is evenly combined.
  5. Taste and season.Before we add the eggs, go ahead and give the mixture a taste and season it with salt and pepper as needed. (The level of saltiness will vary considerably based on the type of nuts you used, but you will likely need to add a generous amount of salt and pepper, so don’t be shy!)
  6. Purée or mash part of the mixture. If you own a food processor, transfer about 1/3 of the mixture to a food processor and pulse a few times until the mixture is fairly puréed. (Or alternately, use a potato masher to mash about 1/3 of the mixture on one side of the mixing bowl until it is puréed.) Stir the puréed mixture back into the overall mixture along with the whisked eggs until everything is evenly combined.
  7. Press the mixture into the pan.Transfer the entire nut loaf mixture into the prepared bread pan, packing it down fairly firmly (which will help the loaf to slice more easily later).
  8. Bake.Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the loaf is cooked through. (I also like to remove the roast about 5 minutes before it has finished baking to brush the top of the roast with a bit of melted butter or oil to help it crisp up on top during those final few minutes in the oven, but this step is totally optional. Alternately, if the top of the roast starts to get too browned during cooking, just gently lay a sheet of aluminum foil on top of the bread pan.)
  9. Rest the nut roast. Transfer the pan to a wire cutting rack and let the nut roast rest for about 15-20 minutes.
  10. Serve.Carefully lift the edges of the parchment paper up to remove the nut roast from the pan and transfer it to a cutting board. Use a bread knife to slice the roast into your desired size of pieces. Then serve warm with gravy or cranberry sauce and enjoy!

Notes

Chopping the veggies and nuts:As mentioned in the notes above, you are welcome to chop the veggies and nuts as finely or coarsely as you prefer. (I recommend a pretty fine chop, so that the nut loaf will hold together and slice better.) If you happen to own a food processor, it makes chopping the nuts (and veggies, if you would like) a breeze! Otherwise, you can place the nuts in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin or mallet, or just chop them with a knife.

Vegan flax egg alternative:To make this recipe vegan, feel free to whip up some flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flax mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water, per flax egg, whisked together and rested for 15 minutes to thicken) to use in this recipe instead. They work great!

Make-ahead instructions:If you would like to prep this recipe in advance, I recommend cooking the entire nut roast filling and refrigerating it in a sealed food storage container for up to 48 hours before baking. Then transfer the filling to the prepared bake pan and bake as instructed.Alternately, you can go ahead and bake the nut roast, let it cool completely to room temperature, wrap it tightly with beeswrap or plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days (or freeze for up to 3 months). Then on the day you are ready to serve the nut roast, let it return to room temperature, place it in a bread pan, cover with foil and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes until warmed through.

Amazing Nut Roast Recipe! - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

Why is my nut roast crumbly? ›

If the roast is cooking too much it will dry out and be crumbly. Try reducing the cooking time by 5 mins. Make sure the mixture is well-combined… When you've added all of your ingredients to the pan, give everything a bit of a squish with the back of a spoon.

Is nut roast good for you? ›

Nut roasts are a popular vegetarian option. They're high in calories because of the fats in nuts, although these are generally the healthier unsaturated kind. A 120g portion of nut roast contains an extra 10g of fat and 72kcal more than an average portion of roast chicken.

What to pair with nut roast? ›

A nut roast is packed with many of the same savoury notes that a traditional roast has. As a result, it will pair delightfully with similar wines that you'd find paired with a roast. Think big bold reds and rich whites. And remember - the number one rule is to get a wine you enjoy.

Should I freeze nut roast before or after cooking? ›

Cooked roasts can also be frozen. Pre-cook and freeze them in the tin(s) you intend to re-cook them in. Let them defrost completely then place in a medium oven – about 180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4 for 12-15 minutes. Take care not to overcook them the second time around – cover with baking paper if they start to catch.

Why do you soak nuts before roasting? ›

It may seem counterintuitive to soak your nuts before you roast them, when the goal is a crunchy cashew. But some experts swear by this trick to give your cashews extra flavor, as well as helping them be more digestible.

Why won't my roast pull apart? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

What is the healthiest nut to eat? ›

Top 10 healthiest nuts
  1. Almonds. Sweet tasting almonds have a number of health benefits. ...
  2. Brazil nuts. Originating from a tree in the Amazon, Brazil nuts are one of the richest food sources of the mineral, selenium. ...
  3. Cashews. ...
  4. Chestnuts. ...
  5. Hazelnuts. ...
  6. Macadamia nuts. ...
  7. Pecans. ...
  8. Pine nuts.
Mar 30, 2023

Can you eat roasted nuts everyday? ›

Even though most of it is healthy fat, the calories can still add up. That's why you should eat nuts in moderation. Adults should aim to eat about 4 to 6 servings of unsalted nuts a week as part of a healthy diet. Serving recommendations for kids vary, depending on age.

Can you eat too many roasted nuts? ›

Because they are such a nutrient- and calorie-dense food, portion control is essential to avoid excess weight gain. More importantly, eating too many nuts can actually lead to food toxicity which can range from mild symptoms to severe illness.

What does nut roast taste like? ›

The flavor is (not surprisingly) nutty! For those wondering, it does not generally taste like meat. The specific flavors depend on what you put into your roast, but to give you a general idea, it tends to have the kind of mild savory flavor that you might expect from Thanksgiving stuffing.

Can I freeze a nut roast? ›

Certainly, to freeze, allow the Nut Roast to cool and cut into slices/portions. Wrap in tin foil and freeze slices individually. The great thing is this Christmas Nut Roast can be cooked from frozen, simply pop a tin foil parcel in the oven and cook for 30 minutes at 200C / 390F.

Can nut roast be reheated? ›

Recipe Tips

This nut roast recipe can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cover with foil to reheat in a medium oven for 20-30 minutes.

How long can you keep nut roast in the fridge? ›

Make Ahead, Storing and Freezing

Storing: This nut roast keeps very well in a covered container in the fridge for 3-4 days and can be served cold or reheated in the microwave. Freezing: It is also freezer friendly if you'd like to freeze it. Let it cool completely before freezing and then thaw in the fridge overnight.

Can you reheat nut roast twice? ›

There's nothing to the detriment of a nut roast to reheat it whatsoever. And I agree that it's a nice thing to have cooked, as it means the veggies can join in with the rest of the meal.

What is the best method for roasting nuts? ›

How it works: Place the nuts in cold, dry skillet over medium heat and toast them, tossing frequently, until browned in spots and fragrant. Then immediately transfer the nuts to a plate or bowl.

Is roast supposed to fall apart? ›

A perfectly cooked beef joint makes a wonderful centrepiece for a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner. To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

Why did my roast come out dry? ›

It sounds odd, but meat can become dry even when it's cooked in moisture. The most likely cause of this is overcooking.

How do you know when nuts are done roasting? ›

Most nuts take 8-10 minutes to toast, but often the smell of roasting nuts is a sign that they are done. It's important to check them as soon as you smell them because they can burn before you know it! For maximum crunch, let the nuts cool before using them in your recipe.

How do you fix a dry tough roast? ›

Simmer in liquid. Just like for burnt meat, if your meat gets tough and dry then you can simmer it in a little bit of broth for a couple minutes. Don't allow it to overcook again but just allow the liquid to penetrate the meat.

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