A Very Vegan Thanksgiving

Just because you're not a meat-eater doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy Thanksgiving. If you or any of your guests are forgoing the bird this season, I have the perfect solution: a vegan-friendly Lentil Loaf. 

With all the classic tastes of the season -- cranberries, toasted walnuts, and stuffing-like ingredients -- this loaf has the chops to impress your turkey-hugging friends and still water the taste buds of even the heartiest beef eater.

It tastes very similar to turkey meatloaf but with an added seasonal flair from the cranberry glaze. I got the recipe from my favorite vegan blog, Oh She Glows, and adapted it slightly to make it easier to make, and a bit more low-cal.

Thanksgiving Lentil Loaf

Ingredients

16 oz. Lentils (4/5 package from Trader Joes)

1 Chopped Apple

1 C. Chopped Celery

1 C. Diced Onion

1 C. Shredded Carrot

1 Tbs. Minced Garlic

1/3 C. Chopped Walnuts

1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

3/4 C. Old Fashioned Oats

1 Tsp. Thyme 

3 Tbs. Ground Flax + 1/2 C. Water

1/4 C. Ketchup

2 Tbs. Trader Joe's Cranberry Apple Butter

2 Tbs. Balsamic Vinegar

Directions

1. Set oven to 325.

2. Prepare your fruit and veggies...

3. Combine your flax and water in a bowl, whisk, and set aside.

4. Coat a frying pan with cooking spray and saute the onions, walnuts, and garlic over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.

5. Add apple, celery, and carrots and cook for 5 more minutes.

6. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients, except the ketchup, balsamic vinegar, and cran-apple butter. Make sure to mash the lentils throughly as you go.

7. Line a loaf pan with wax paper. You can either use one large pan or two small ones. I think two would have worked better to cook the loaf more completely through.

8. In a small bowl combine the last three ingredients.

9. Coat the loaf with half of the glaze and save half for dipping later.

10. Bake for about an hour for one pan, about 40 minutes for 2.

11. Serve with steammed veggies and your other Thanksgiving favorites, and enjoy!

And be sure to stay tuned this week for more low-calorie Thanksgiving recipe alternatives.

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