This Lentil Loaf is a great main dish for holiday celebrations! Smother it with lots of cashew gravy for the ultimate in comfort food!
I went vegetarian in the early 90s, when vegetarian convenience food was hard to come by, and there were very few veg cookbooks available. I had a cookbook from Peta called The Compassionate Cook along with a subscription to Vegetarian Times, and together they helped me learn how to cook.
On holidays and special occasions, I always made a lentil loaf, which was a combination of a few different recipes I had come across, and I always had lots of vegan gravy to serve it with. Sometimes my relatives tried it, and since it was very similar to the meatloaves they were familiar with, they always enjoyed it.
Over the years, I’ve made the lentil loaf less and less, not because it wasn’t a good recipe, but rather because of the shear amount of easy-to-find vegan holiday foods available now, as well as the large number of cookbooks I’ve amassed. Recently, I asked Dennis what kind of meal I should make for Christmas, and he said “that lentil loaf you used to make.” At this point, I had almost forgotten about it, but fortunately, I still have the recipe.
Warm and hearty Lentil Loaf with Cashew Gravy is the ultimate in vegan comfort food. It’s perfect for Sunday dinner along with mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts, and it’s also a great main-dish option for holiday meals.
Lentil Loaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup green or brown lentils
- 1 cup brown rice
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- medium-sized onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup cashews chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon crumbled sage
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
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Combine the lentils and rice in a large pot with the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it has begun to boil, lower the heat to a simmer, cover the pot and allow to cook until the water has been absorbed. This could take 45 minutes to an hour.
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While the lentils and rice are cooking, heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until it begins to brown. Add the garlic and carrots, and cook until the carrots are tender, 10-15 minutes.
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Be heat the over to 350° and lightly oil a loaf pan, or line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, mix together the cooked lentils and rice, the vegetables, and the rest of the ingredients. Mash a little as you, so the lentils lose their shape.
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Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf pan, and bake until firm and lightly browned on top, about 45 minutes.
Cashew Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked for at least 2 hours
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 3 tablespoons tamari or Bragg Liquid Aminos
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon gravy browner optional
Instructions
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Combine all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor. Process until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more water, a tablespoon at a time.
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Transfer the mixture to a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and is heated throughout. If the gravy gets too thick, you can thin it with a little more vegetable stock or water.
This looks awesome, and I love how simple that gravy recipe is!
Thank you, Becky!
I have to start off by saying YUM! I can’t wait to get in my kitchen and make this.
Thank you, Ginny! I hope you enjoy it!
Mmmmm, I love a good loaf with gravy. Such comfort food! Add a big pile of mashed potatoes and some green veggies and you’ve got heaven on a plate.
Isn’t it the best?!
This lentil load looks amazing, Dianne! I’ve been searching for a great one to make for Christmas this year and this might just be it! Pinning it now 😉
Thank you, Vanessa! I hope you enjoy it!
This is my kind of loaf! I remember reading learning a lot from Vegetarian Times back then, too. And I started subscribing again when VegNews was on hiatus. I am so sad they’re switched to digital only. The print issues have been really nice lately.
Vegetarian Times has switched to digital only? I didn’t know that! I think I just got an issue in the mail. I’ll need to look into that!
This looks absolutely perfect for the holidays!
Thank you, Mary Ellen!
This looks so good, Dianne! Lentil loaf is a classic, but it’s been a million years since I’ve made one too. What is gravy browner? I’ve never heard of that.
Thank you, Cadry! Gravy browner is just a liquid that gives the gravy its brown color. It’s made with seasonings and sugar, I think. This gravy would have been a tan color without it! The two brands I know of are Gravy Master and Kitchen Bouquet.
The rice and lentils are on the stove now cooking in the broth (I hope this is when I use the broth. The recipe says to add them to water.) Can’t wait to taste this when it’s done. 🙂
I hope you like it, Shellie! Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy. I originally had used water in the recipe but then changed it to broth for more flavor.
Loved it…. We’ll definitely be having this again. Thanks.
That’s great! Thanks for letting me know!
OOOH! Cashew gravy. That sounds delish!! Love that twist and all these flavors!
Thank you, Sophia!
My favourite kind of food. Pure comfort! I love that you suggest serving it with brussels sprouts too. A meal like this is not complete without them IMHO ;O)
Thanks, Mel! I agree about the sprouts!
Oh, this looks so yummy and hearty! I love lentils—we’re the crazy people who get the 25 pound bag at Costco! I’ll put this on my “must try” list 🙂
Thank you, Sarah! I hope you like it!
Mmm, that loaf looks so wonderfully nourishing, and I love cashew gravy! This is actually perfect for making at the beginning of the week for a make ahead winter meal.
Thank you, Alisa! We did get several meals out of it.
I love lentil loaf! I’m making this for Christmas Eve!
I hope you like it, Kathy!
Now this is my kind of meal! Hearty & comforting! Just thinking about it makes me hungry. That cashew gravy looks perfect with it too. Perfect for the holidays 🙂
Thank you, Melissa!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful looking recipe. I was just getting together all the vegan cooking staples to take to my parents and came across this! I know what I will be making (and sharing) one night! Hope your holidays are happy!!
Hi, Tanya. I hope you and your family enjoy it! Happy holidays!!