Mom’s Ultimate Vegetarian Lentil Loaf
It’s that time of year where I’m starting to crave hearty, warm meals like chili, sloppy joes, lasagna and of course a good meatloaf. You too, huh?
Since the days are becoming cooler, I thought that I would share my absolute favorite recipe for meatloaf. And guess what you guys? It’s vegan and gluten free! That’s right; lentils replace meat in this lip-smacking super good meatloaf drenched in some complete awesome sauce. You won’t believe how healthy this is either. The nutrition is rockin!
Did I just say rockin’? Ugh I’m getting old.
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My mom introduced me to this meatloaf a few years ago. At first I was like WTF… did my Mom really just cook up lentils and veggies and then slab it all in a pan? She must be off the rocker. But then of course I tasted it, and it was GLORIOUS.
So good I felt the need to eat half the pan that night. Now every time I see Mom, I’m practically begging for her to make me this lentil loaf for dinner. MAKE ME THE LENTIL LOAF, MA! She thinks I’m nuts now. Probably true.
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I asked her where she got the idea for a vegetarian meatloaf and she pointed me to The Simple Veganista, a blog that I now absolutely adore. Check her out, she has tons of wonderful recipes that are plant-based and delish.
Mom adapted the recipe and added a few more spices and herbs, but really this vegetarian lentil loaf is great to make your own special way. Mix up your topping, try a hawaiian sauce, sweet and sour or perhaps a spicy BBQ sauce. I think my sauce is pretty great, but making your own always makes it fun, too!
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Make your own oat flour for this lentil loaf
Good news, you can easily make your own oat flour right at home to use in this vegetarian lentil loaf recipe. Check out my tutorial with all of my best tips & tricks. So easy!
As mentioned above, one of my favorite reasons I love this meal is because not only is it satisfying, but it’s also packed with some pretty amazing nutrition stats. Not only do lentils contain tons of fiber, but they are an excellent source of protein, too. I mean 16g of fiber and 14g of protein for one serving? Dream come true.
I hope you guys enjoy Mom’s lentil loaf. She’s super excited for you to try it, so let me know what you think. xo!
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More healthy vegetarian recipes you’ll love
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Vegan Butternut Squash Black Bean Enchiladas with Jalapeño Cashew Crema
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Mom’s Ultimate Vegetarian Lentil Loaf
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Course
Dinner, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword
lentil loaf
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
A vegan and gluten free vegetarian lentil loaf made with lentils, herbs and delicious spices.
Ingredients
- 1
cup
dry green lentils - 4
cups
water - 3
tablespoons
flaxseed meal - 1/3
cup
water - 1/2
tablespoon
olive oil - 4
garlic cloves, minced - 1
small white or yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup diced onion) - 1
red bell pepper, finely diced - 1
carrot, finely diced - 1
jalapeño, seeded and diced, optional - 2
teaspoons
cumin - 1
teaspoon
chili powder - 1/2
teaspoon
paprika - 1/2
teaspoon
garlic powder - 1/2
teaspoon
onion powder - 1/4
teaspoon
coriander - 1/2
cup
gluten free rolled oats - 1/2
cup
gluten free oat flour (you can make your own!) - 1/2
cup
chopped fresh cilantro - 1
teaspoon
salt - Freshly ground black pepper
- For the glaze:
- 1/2
cup
ketchup - 1/2
teaspoon
yellow mustard - 1/2
teaspoon
apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar - 1/4
teaspoon
chipotle chili powder (omit if you don’t like spicy food)
Instructions
Rinse the lentils in a large mesh strainer. Add 4 cups of water to a large pot with lentils and a dash of salt, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes or until lentils absorb most of the water and become tender. Drain lentils and set aside.
While the lentils cook: Mix flaxseed meal and 1/3 cup water to a small bowl and place in the refrigerator while you make the rest of the loaf. The flaxseed meal will help bind the loaf together.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
Place large pan over medium heat and add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Once oil is hot, add in garlic, onion, bell pepper, carrot, jalapeno and cilantro; saute for 5-7 minutes or until onions are translucent and carrots begin to soften a bit.
Add in spices and cook for 30 more seconds, then transfer to a large bowl; set aside.
Using a blender or food processor, blend about 2 cups of the cooked lentils.
Transfer to the bowl with the sauteed veggies, and stir in the remaining lentils along with the oats, oat flour, and flaxseed meal (from the fridge!). Add salt and pepper, then taste and add more spices or salt and pepper if desired.
Add mixture to prepared loaf pan, pressing and smoothing to the sides to make sure it bakes evenly. Quickly prepare your glazed by combining all ingredients in a small bowl then spreading half of the sauce on top.
Bake loaf for 45 minutes. Top with remaining sauce.
Remove from heat and cool for 10-15 minutes before removing it from pan. Cut into 6 slices and serve! I like to enjoy it with a little extra ketchup or bbq sauce. Also delicious served with mashed potatoes!
Recipe Notes
This is freezer-friendly, simple wrap tight or place in a freezer safe ziploc bag. Will stay good for up to 3 months. You can also bake and then freeze it in the loaf pan, just ensuring that it is tightly covered.
Nutrition
Servings: 6 servings
Serving size: 1 serving
Calories: 264kcal
Fat: 3.3g
Carbohydrates: 45.3g
Fiber: 16.3g
Sugar: 6.2g
Protein: 14.4g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Sarah Fennel // Broma Bakery