Recipe: Nut Roast – Christmas in July

Winter Season’s Greetings! Christmas in July is here and this wholesome roast of nuts is a perfect alternative to the traditional meat roast.

This dish has become a favourite of my friends and is at the top of the menu list every Christmas in July!

Ingredients

30g butter/1 Tbspn of oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, finely diced
1 leek sliced
1 carrot grated
1 stick celery, diced
3 cups mushrooms, diced
Salt and pepper to season

1 cup fresh bread, pulled into tiny pieces
½ cup plain flour
1 egg
2 Tbspn sage/rosemary/thyme diced
2 Tbspn parsley, chopped
½ cup grated cheddar cheese
½ tspn nutmeg (freshly grated is divine!)
250g mixed roasted nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, brazil nuts, cashews and macadamias are great!), roughly chopped

To Create!

1. Lightly grease a loaf tin with baking paper
2. In a large pan, heat the butter/oil and add the garlic, onion, leek, carrot, celery, mushrooms and salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes, until the vegetables have softened
3. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Add fresh bread crumbs, flour, egg, herbs, cheese, nutmeg and nuts and mix thoroughly
4. Spoon the nut mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake in the oven at 180°C for 45 to 50 minutes.
5. When baked, remove and let stand for 10 minutes before turning out
6. Garnish with extra roasted nuts and herbs
7. Serve with Christmas dinner trimmings, gravy, or with a fresh and spicy tomato sauce!

Vegan options: Cheddar cheese = vegan cheese/ thick cashew cream. Egg = mashed potato/ cornflour/ egg replacer.