Individual Nut Roasts
Delicious and not difficult.
Ingredients
Time: 60-70 minutes
Servings: 6-8
Roasts
3 tbsp olive or other oil of choice
1 large onion, chopped quite fine (food process if desired)
2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped or ½ tin chopped tomatoes
½ tsp allspice or nutmeg
30g/1oz wholemeal flour (3-4 tbsp) OR GF version, 2 tbsp arrowroot mixed with a little cold water
140ml/5fl oz vegan stock
2-3 tbsp soya sauce, preferably shoyu or GF tamari
250g/9oz mixed unsalted nuts of choice – we particularly like a hazelnuts, brazils and cashew mixture
85g/3oz wholemeal breadcrumbs, bought or home-made. GF option, eg Orgran GF Rice Crumbs
8 sundried tomatoes from a jar, chopped roughly with scissors
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
1 bunch fresh parsley, food processed or chopped
2 tbsp flax meal (ground flax/linseed – same thing!) mixed with 4 tbsp warm water to make a flax egg
Salt and black pepper to taste
Cranberry Sauce (optional)
200g fresh or defrosted frozen cranberries
2 tbsp soft dark brown sugar
Splash of water if necessary
Optional Decorations
Pine nuts or flaked almonds to scatter on the top plus fresh rosemary sprigs or fresh sage leaves
Method
Chop the onion finely – by hand or in a food processor. Heat the oil in the pan then sauté (lightly fry) the onion until tender. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes.
Add the flour and cook it in to the mixture for a minute then stir in the stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. If using arrowroot mixture, add that in at Stage 4.
Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.
Food process the nuts by pulsing gradually. This technique stops the nuts from becoming a paste – you want some texture. Add the chopped nuts to the tomato and onion mixture together with all the other ingredients, including the arrowroot mixture if you’re making it GF. Mix very thoroughly.
Prepare your individual containers as appropriate – eg if using ramekins, oil them, if using muffin cases get them ready. Spoon the mixture evenly between the containers, pressing down with the back of a spoon or cutting ring presser.
Bake for 20-30 minutes, checking after 15 that the the nuts aren’t getting too brown. If they are, cover with baking paper for the rest of the cooking time.
Meanwhile, make the Cranberry Sauce. Add the washed cranberries plus the sugar to a saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring well and cook until the cranberries have turned into a thick jammy sauce. Add a splash or two of water if they start sticking to the pan. Check the sugar quantities – you want the sauce to be tart but not too much – add another teaspoon or so of sugar if necessary. Set aside when done.
Test the centres of the roasts with a sharp knife or cake tester to check they are cooked sufficiently. If not, return to the oven for another few minutes.
Serve hot with all the trimmings.
Maryanne Hall, Viva! Vegan Recipe Club www.veganrecipeclub.org.uk
Instagram: @veganrecipeclub