Comfort food Classic : Savory “Meat” Loaf and creamy, dreamy Mashed Potatoes.
There are a lot of vegetarian “meat” loaf recipes out there. Some are really great, some not so much. It’s easy to end up with a soggy, mushy loaf if your not careful. I can’t really remember what real meatloaf tastes like at this point, and I didn’t eat it much growing up anyways, but I can tell you that this Muffin Pan Meatless Loaf recipe is savory, full of flavor and texture and simple delicious.
This meal is one of my favorites. It’s inexpensive (yay for lentils, spices, potatoes and frozen veggies), SUPER kid-friendly, easy to prepare (not much chopping at all) and makes for great leftovers.
Cooking this loaf in a muffin pan makes them much more enjoyable for my kids to eat. They are a cinch for my 1 year old to pick up and devour. My 9 year old son actually topped his with the mashed potatoes and ate it like a cupcake!
And shhh…. No one needs to know there’s a POUND of cauliflower hiding in the mashed potatoes. Seriously, they won’t know if you don’t tell them!
Enjoy this comfort food classic dinner with your family. Add some steamed green beans, asparagus, brussel sprouts or broccoli for a complete meal.
Inspired by this recipe at Oh She Glows, one of my favorite vegan blogs.
Hidden Veggie Mashed Potatoes inspired from this cookbook.
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked green lentils
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs, whole grain preferred *I used sprouted bread and blended it into crumbs
- 3/4 cup quick cooking oats
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- ketchup, barbecue sauce to top
Instructions
- Bring the lentils and water to a boil in a medium pot, then lower the heat and let simmer for 25-30 minutes. Drain the lentils in a colander, then add to a large bowl and slightly mash with a potato masher or fork, leaving some beans whole.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a muffin pan with oil.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the lentils and stir well with a large wooden spoon. Taste and add more salt or spices as desired.
- Fill muffin cups almost full with lentil mixture, pressing down each one with slightly wet fingers. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove and top with ketchup or barbecue sauce as desired.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 lb frozen (or fresh) cauliflower florets
- 2 tbs vegan butter *optional
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed *optional for picky kids
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- more water, as needed
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the chopped potatoes and enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Next add the cauliflower and cook for 8 minutes more.
- Drain the potatoes and cauliflower in a colander, then add them back to the pot. Add all other ingredients while hot and mash well with a potato masher. Add water as needed to thin out to desired consistency. Alternately, you could mix with a hand mixer to get them even smoother.
Jennifer
Do you think you could make the meatloaf ahead of time and bake it the next day?
Nora
Yes, I don’t think that would be a problem.
jill Penny
Is there anything I could substitute for the walnuts?
Nora
Sure! If you want another nut/seed you could use cashews, pepitas, sunflower seeds even… Or just leave them out. They just add a nice crunch and a little flavor.
jill Penny
Thank you so much! Looks delicious!
Renee
Omgoodness!!! I made these last night and they are hands down the best meatless loaf I’ve ever tasted!!! I threw in some chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot with the lentils with 5 minutes remaining on cooking time. ( I was too lazy to saute) I did not add tahini and used only 1/3 cup ketchup. This recipie is definitely going to be on my rotation of meals!!! Thank you so much for posting this amazing recipie!!
Nora
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe so much, thanks for sharing!! 🙂