27 cm fluted ring cake tin (dimensions L x W x H 27 x 8.5 x 27 cm)
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Ingredients
olive oil
1large onion
3large garlic cloves
2celery sticks
250gcarrots
150gparsnips
250gbutternut squash
175gchestnut mushrooms
125gred split lentils
500mlvegetable stock
2tspdried thyme
2tspsmoked paprika
2Tbsptomato paste
200gmixed nuts
100gbreadcrumbs
2Tbspmilled chia seeds
400gcan chickpeas
zest and juice of 1 large orange
salt & pepper
Instructions
Start by preparing the vegetables. Chop the onion finely. Grate the garlic cloves. Chop the celery finely. Chop the mushrooms finely. Using the coarse side of a cheese grater, grate the carrots, parsnips and butternut squash.
Heat some olive oil in a large saucepan Add the chopped onion and grated garlic. Fry gently until soft.
Add the chopped celery and grated carrot. Fry gently for 3-5 minutes until soft.
Add the grated parsnips, grated butternut squash and chopped mushrooms. Fry gently for 5 minutes until soft.
Add lentils, vegetable stock, thyme, smoked paprika and tomato paste to the vegetables. Mix well until all the ingredients are blended. Cover with a lid and cook for around 20 mins until the lentils are cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir from time to time to avoid the vegetable mixture sticking to the bottom of the pan. When the lentils are done, if you feel that there is too much liquid, carry on cooking without the lid to eliminate as much liquid as possible (if there is too much liquid, the nut roast will be wet and will not hold together when you serve it).
While the vegetables are cooking, you can prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Pulse the mixed nuts in a blender to a chunky yet fine mixture.
Transfer the ground nuts to a bowl. Mix with the breadcrumbs and milled chia seeds.
Drain the chickpeas. Crush them roughly with a fork. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 200c/180c fan/gas 6. Line a fluted ring cake tin with some parchment paper.
When the vegetable mixture is ready, add the ground nuts, breadcrumbs, milled chia seeds and crushed chickpeas to the saucepan. Mix well. Add the orange zest and orange juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Spoon the mixture into the cake mould, pressing to pack it down as much as possible.
Cover with foil and place in the oven for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, remove the foil and carry on cooking for 25-35mins until firm and brown.
Leave to cool in the tin for 15 mins before turning it out. Allow to cool for another 5-10mins while you are decorating it.
Serve with roasted vegetables and cranberry sauce.