It’s fully fall. Time for soups, stews, hearty casseroles, and even… planning for the holidays!
I know, that sounds early, but we have Canadian Thanksgiving in October, and soon after we are in the swing of holiday season. We need recipes we can rely on for the holidays – and recipes that are relatively easy!
This year I made my Autumn Dinner Loaf for our Thanksgiving dinner, and paired it with kale salad, mashed potatoes, and vegan gravy.
I recorded a video making this recipe, so you can watch it and see just how easy it is!
So today I’m sharing a vegan meatloaf recipe that I know you’ll enjoy. Many of you already know and love the No-Fu Loaf from LTEV.
This Autumn Dinner Loaf from Plant-Powered Families is also sensational. Quite different from the no-fu loaf, as it’s made with a base of grains, almonds, and vegetables rather than the lentil base of No-fu.
This vegan meatloaf is also especially easy to make! So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with holiday cooking but still want a special main, this is your recipe. Seriously. Everything into the food processor, then into the oven. Done!
And, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous with holiday cooking and want to build a full menu around this vegan meatloaf, hop over to this post for inspiration.
Please let me know how you enjoy the recipe! x Dreena
Autumn Dinner Loaf
Ingredients
- 2 cups carrot sliced
- 2/3 cup whole raw almonds
- 1/2 cup sliced green onion
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground dried sage
- 1 medium-large clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 lightly packed cups cooked and cooled brown rice
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp rolled oats
Topping Options (see note)
BBQ Topping:
- 21/2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 1 – 2 tablespoons rolled oats
Dry Topping:
- 2 tablespoons almond meal
- 1 tablespoon rolled oats
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly wipe a glass loaf pan with a smidgen of oil. Line the bottom of the pan with a strip of parchment paper (place it in so it hangs over the short ends of the pan; this helps for easier removal of the veggie loaf from the pan). In a food processor, add the carrots, almonds, green onions, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, sea salt, rosemary, sage, garlic, and lemon juice. Process until the mixture smooths out and starts to become sticky, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the rice and puree. At this point the mixture should be sticky enough to hold slightly when pressed. Add the oats and process through. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and evenly distribute. If using the BBQ topping, spread the sauce over the top of the loaf, and then sprinkle on the oats. If using the dry topping, combine the almond meal, oats, and salt in a small bowl, and then sprinkle over the loaf. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 33–35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5–7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for about 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
photos by Nicole Axworthy
This post was originally published in September 2017 and updated with a video tutorial for 2020.
Jocelyn says
Hi Dreena,
I have and love your PPF book. I haven’t made this yet but I plan on trying it tomorrow to see if I can make it for thanksgiving.
My question is: what to look for when buying barbecue sauce? Is their a decent brand you recommend? Thanks! Jocelyn
Maija says
What about adding or substituting squash/pumpkin for the carrots?
Could you add more than two cups of veggies?
Thank you.. it looks yummy.
Dreena says
Hi Maiija, you could do so, just use in raw form as I’ve done with the carrots. If you add extra veggies, the loaf may not hold together, it can be tricky to balance that consistency. Enjoy!
Sarah Austin says
What a great idea! I was just thinking my husband wouldn’t like this because of all those carrots but using something more neutral flavored would be good – maybe a delicata squash? Thank you!
Jen says
I made this last night and it was AH-mazing!! It is one of those meals that gets better each bite you take so by the end everyone at the table was making those “mmm” sounds. So good, truly. I was experimenting for the upcoming holidays and this will definitely be on the menu. I paired this with the Almond Roasted Cauliflower, which was another HUGE hit. Thank you for another outstanding recipe 🙂
Dreena says
Oh so happy to read that, thanks Jen!
Ted says
Hello Dreena,
I am having to move toward a vegan, oil free diet. Your site fits well. My wife made this loaf yesterday and it was delicious. Appreciate the work you do to bring us enjoyable healthy recipes. Thank you.
Dreena says
That’s lovely to read, thank you Ted! Best to you both!
JCB says
What can I sub for the rice? Have stopped eating rice because of the arsenic content..
Dreena says
This is a big topic. Some of the arsenic reports have been exaggerated. There are steps we can take, for instance choosing brown basmati from California, India, or Pakistan and soaking rice or cooking in extra water (then draining off). Perhaps look into some extra articles on it. I haven’t tested it with other grains, I’d expect it might be okay with millet, but for texture rice is the best option.