A fresh take on a Vegan Lentil Loaf for you! It’s made with a delicious blend of lentils, mushrooms and walnuts and has a beautifully festive cranberry topping. Those pops of juicy cranberry in every bite are so good, plus they make it look pretty impressive. It would make a great centrepiece on your holiday table!
Ah, it’s nearly Christmas! It’s only gone and crept up on me yet again. It happens every year. I think I have loads of time and then all of a sudden that time slips through my fingers and it’s here and I’m in a mad panic to get everything organized.
Because it’s the festive season, and it’s always super busy, I am always in need of recipes that feel festive but aren’t too difficult, and bonus points if they can be prepared ahead of the big day. And boy have I got all those points covered with this Mushroom Lentil Loaf with Cranberries recipe. It’s so good I’ve even included it in my Vegan Christmas Dinner Menu, Shopping List and Timeline. If you want your entire Christmas meal planned down to the tiniest detail for you then go check it out.
This new vegan meatloaf recipe is an adapted version of my very popular Vegan Meatloaf with Gravy recipe. If you have tried that and loved it then you will love this new Lentil Loaf too.
The Mushroom Lentil Loaf with Cranberries just screams festive. The juicy red cranberries make it look so pretty, plus those juicy pops of cranberry in every bite are so good.
As well as cranberries on top, there are dried cranberries through the actual body of the Lentil Loaf. They add a lovely chew and a little sweetness which is really good with the savoury loaf and the slightly tart cranberry topping.
What’s great too, is that because of the cranberry topping, you don’t need to serve cranberry sauce on the side so there’s one less thing to make and remember to put on the table.
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN LENTIL LOAF
This recipe involves quite a lot of chopping, but if you have a food processor it can all be done in minutes.
I have this one and absolutely love it:
When I make this recipe, just about the only thing I use a knife for is cutting the ends off the onion and peeling it. Everything else just gets thrown in here and pulsed until finely chopped. It couldn’t be easier!
First chop all of the vegetables and walnuts then add them to a large mixing bowl with the lentils.
Then add the breadcrumbs, ground flax, flour, grated apple and dried cranberries.
Then the seasoning, herbs and tamari.
Then mix it all up thoroughly.
Put some cranberries and sugar in a pan and warm over a medium heat until the sugar is starting to melt and they are beginning to just get juicy.
Line a loaf pan with a strip of parchment paper and pour in the cranberries.
Then pile on the Lentil Loaf mixture and pack it in very tightly.
At this stage it can be refrigerated for a couple of days or baked right away.
Here it is before baking:
And here it is after baking:
Once ready, it’s best to leave it in the tin to rest for 15-30 minutes. You will find that it cuts much better if you do this.
HOW TO SERVE VEGAN LENTIL LOAF
This Mushroom Lentil Loaf with Cranberries will make a wonderful addition to your Christmas or Thanksgiving meal, or just for a regular dinner.
I love to serve it with my Healthy No Oil Roasted Potatoes, steamed vegetables and lashings of gravy. It works really well with the gravy from my original meatloaf recipe here and also with my Red Wine Vegan Gravy.
It’s also awesome served with fluffy, buttery mashed potato or simply with lots of vegetables on the side.
THIS IS WHY I AM LOVING THIS MUSHROOM LENTIL LOAF WITH CRANBERRIES
- It looks so pretty and festive!
- It has that perfect balance of savoury, sweet and tart
- It’s easy to make
- It can be made ahead then cooked a few days later
- It’s comforting and satisfying
- It’s great eaten immediately but also reheats really well
- Leftovers are awesome thinly sliced in sandwiches, or on a plate with chutneys, pickles, crusty bread etc
Mushroom Lentil Loaf with Cranberries
Ingredients
- 1 small onion , chopped finely
- 2 cloves garlic ,chopped finely
- 198g / 1 cup cooked red lentils , weighed after cooking
- 198g / 1 cup cooked green lentils , I like to use French green lentils but any will work (weighed after cooking)
- 226g / 3 cups finely chopped mushrooms
- 62g / ½ cup walnut pieces
- 8 tablespoons / ½ cup ground flax seed , it must be ground not whole
- 45g / ½ cup flour , all purpose (plain flour in the UK), oat, rice, spelt or wholewheat
- 75g / 1 very packed cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free breadcrumbs if necessary). You can use store bought breadcrumbs, or let some bread go stale at home and either put it in a food processor or blender to turn it into crumbs. Leftover crumbs can be put in a bag or container in the freeer and used straight from frozen for other recipes.
- 70g / ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ large apple , grated (no need to peel)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon tamari , or soy sauce, or coconut aminos
For the cranberry topping
- 200g / 2 cup cranberries , fresh or frozen
- 4 tablespoons sugar , not brown sugar or coconut sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Add all of the ingredients (except the fresh/frozen cranberries and sugar) to a very large bowl and stir really well until combined. I find it easier to use clean hands to scrunch it all together and mix it.
- Put the cranberries and the sugar in a small pan over a medium heat and just cook until the sugar is mostly dissolved and some juice is appearing in the bottom of the pan. It only takes 5 - 6 minutes. Then remove from the heat.
- Grease a 1lb or similar loaf pan (about 8.5 inch x 4.5 inch or 9inch x 5inch) and line it with a strip of baking parchment going along the middle. (See my picture above). Leave some paper overhanging as it will make turning it out easier.
- Spoon in the cranberries (you don't have to wait for them to cool down but be careful as the sugary liquid will be very hot) and even them out a bit with a spoon.
- Pack the lentil loaf mixture on the top. Really push it down all over and make sure it is even on the top.
- Place the loaf pan on a baking tray (just in case the cranberry liquid spills over) and bake for 1hr - 1 hr 10 minutes. It should be golden and crusty looking on the top and coming away from the edges. There will probably be a little jammy red liquid oozing over the edge too.
- Once done, leave to rest in the pan for 15-30 minutes (it will stay warm for up to an hour if you wrap it in some tin foil) before turning out and slicing. To turn it out, put a plate or board on top of it then flip it over so the plate/board ends up on the bottom. It will slide out really easily but if you do have any trouble you can give a little tug on the parchment paper to ease it out. Once it's out, gently peel back the parchment paper to reveal the pretty cranberry top.
Notes
- Don't soak them prior to cooking.
- Rinse in a sieve with fresh water to remove any dust or debris.
- Cook on a stovetop, using 3 cups of liquid (water, stock) to 1 cup of dry lentils. Be sure to use a large enough saucepan as the lentils will double or triple in size.
- Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat to low and simmer until they are tender.
- For whole lentils, cook time is usually about 15-20 minutes.
- For split red lentils, cook time is typically only about 5 minutes.
- Spoon a couple out and taste them to check done-ness periodically and as soon as they are ready, drain and leave to cool.
If you did, be a ☆ and let me know what you think by rating it and commenting below. Tag me on Instagram too. I am @avirtualvegan and my hashtag is #avirtualvegan ________________________________________________________
Nutrition
Hampstead vegan says
My adult, non-vegan children requested this twice over the holidays. Good served cold, too.
A Virtual Vegan says
That’s so good to hear! I like it cold too, sliced in sandwiches with some chutney!
Tammy Dowling says
Just made this tonight for dinner and WoW! it was amazing and delicious. Thank you for this recipie <3
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!
Jen says
Anything I can use besides mushrooms?
A Virtual Vegan says
There are way too many in this to sub for anything else. There is a chance eggplant might work but without trying it I can’t say for sure.
OW says
My dad recently became a vegan for health reasons and this was a huge hit, even the carnivores liked it! First vegan meal I’ve made but it turned out great, he loved the textures and flavours.
Thanks for a delicious and vibrant recipe.
A Virtual Vegan says
You’re welcome. I’m so pleased you all enjoyed it!
mrs andrena silk says
I have just made this for a family get together. It was very easy to make and looked incredible when I removed it from the baking tin. The flavours were delicious and it easily fed six people with around four portions left over. However everyone asked for second helpings and the loaf was demolished in record time! . I made it with the red wine gravy and it was the most delicious gravy I have ever had and so easy to make from other red wine gravies I have tried in the past. I made double for Christmas Day(tomorrow) and the flavour has intensified and the gravy seems even richer (yum yum).
A wonderful recipe that will be made again and again. Thank you.
A Virtual Vegan says
That makes me so happy Andrena. Next time you’ll have to make two loaves so you get some leftovers! It reheats perfectly. I’m glad you enjoyed the gravy too. Have a lovely Christmas and thank you so much for stopping by to leave feedback. I really appreciate it!
brooke says
This looks great. I am going to try using stevia as the sweetener for the cranberries as I have a couple people who don’t eat sugar.
I usually use coconut sugar. What is the reason why you don’t recommend coconut sugar?
Thanks!
A Virtual Vegan says
Coconut sugars flavour is too strong and caramel-y and the color might affect the lovely red of the cranberries too. White or cane sugar is best. I’m not sure you’ll get the jammy texture needed with stevia.
Kate Williams says
What size loaf pan?
A Virtual Vegan says
A 1lb pan or similar. That’s about 8.5 inch x 4.5 inch or 9inch x 5inch.
Adriana says
Thanks so much Mel for your reply. I’m attempting to make it for Christmas Lunch.????
Adriana says
Hello,
I was wondering do I use dry breadcrumbs from a packet or breadcrumbs made from fresh bread when making this recipe. This is my first time making it and I really don’t want to go wrong.
Thank you
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks for asking Adriana. I just amended the recipe to make it more clear. You can buy store bought breadcrumbs if you like. I tend to make my own though as there are always some odds and ends of bread that end up a bit past their best and need using up. If you do make your own, let the bread stale for a few days, or if it’s really fresh and you need to make them, you can put a couple of slices in the oven on low to dry them out or just leave them out on the counter overnight and they’ll dry up. Then just process them in a food processor or blender to make the crumbs. I hope you enjoy the loaf!
vince says
can this be frozen
A Virtual Vegan says
I have never tried. Mushrooms can tend to go a bit funny in the freezer because they contain so much water which might affect the texture. Without trying it I wouldn’t like to say for sure. It might be better to cook it first, cool then freeze. That way a lot of the moisture would have been baked out of the mushrooms already. Then just defrost and reheat it when you need it. Let me know how it is if you try it!
Kathryn James says
Confused on the amount of lentils. Do I measure out 1cup of each AFTER cooking? That would only be 2 cups of each combined. That seems like an awfully small amount of lentils for a loaf. I shouldn’t use the roughly 4 cups?
A Virtual Vegan says
Yes, weigh 198g (1 cup) of each AFTER cooking. That is correct. Remember that there are 3 cups of mushrooms in this loaf plus all the other bits and bobs. You will find once it’s all mixed up that you’ll look at it and wonder how you will get it in the pan. It does fit after compacting though!
Robyn says
Hello,
I am the only vegan in the family and hosting Christmas lunch for 15 people so eager to impress. I am very keen to try this lentil loaf but I’m wondering , is it moist or dry?
A Virtual Vegan says
It’s pretty moist. Not dry at all.
Ursula says
This was the second thing I made after the vegan butter and I loved it. I used all red lentils just because I didn’t have green ones at home but it came out great. I will make it again with green and red lentils to see if there is a difference but all this being said I am your huge fan from now on!
A Virtual Vegan says
That’s great Ursula. Thank you! Glad it turned out ok with all red lentils.
jmarie says
Bonjour!! I have tried a few of your recipes and have not been disappointed 🙂 I thank you!! I would like to try this loaf during our carême season leading up to Christmas. I have a question though. Cranberries are not something we can usually find here and if they can be found, they are incredibly expensive. Can you recommend a substitute?? Perhaps sour cherries?? Also, what is the purpose of the linseed?? For binding?? If that is the case, may chia seeds be used?? We can find linseeds here, so I am just asking out of curiosity. Thank you so much!!
A Virtual Vegan says
I’m glad you are enjoying my recipes! With regards the meatloaf, I’m not sure what would work instead of cranberries. Maybe sour cherries but without trying it it’s hard to say. Cranberries are quite unique. You might like this recipe instead https://avirtualvegan.com/vegan-meatloaf-with-gravy/ then you won’t need to worry about the cranberries. They are both very similar. And yes the flax/linseed is for binding. It helps firm it up and makes it easier to slice. I find it works better in this recipe than chia seeds so wouldn’t recommend you substitute it. Plus, here at least, they tend to be cheaper than chia seeds and come ready ground in bags so it makes life easier and cheaper!
jmarie says
Thank you for your reply!! I googled what could be used as a substitute and deep in an internet forum someone suggested using red currants. What I really like about your recipe is the colour, it looks very inviting. I think I will do a practice run with the currants 🙂
Lisa says
How did it turn out with the red currents
Edward Smith says
Hi Mel.. it is me again. Hope I am not asking too many questions!
I want to make the Mushroom Lentil Loaf. I don’t like eating meals where the lentils keep their shape. I love lentils but I like to lightly pulse them in a food processor once cooked. Do you think if I pulsed the lentils for this recipe and then combined all the other ingredients, would that affect the recipe? I am guessing that the texture would be pretty much the same?
I realize that it’s probably best not to puree the lentils as they would become like hummus — just lightly pulse them.
Thanks for any help you may be able to offer. All the best.
A Virtual Vegan says
Lightly pulsing them would be fine. Hope you enjoy it!
Lee says
I don’t see where the amount of tamari is printed. Did I miss something?
A Virtual Vegan says
You didn’t miss something, I did! Thank you for spotting that. It’s not crucial but adds some depth of flavour. It’s one tablespoon and I have added it to the ingredients list!
Stephanie says
The weight of the lentils – is it before or after cooking? And by the way, it looks amazing, thanks!
A Virtual Vegan says
Hi Stephanie, the weight is after cooking. Hope you enjoy it!
Tara says
I made this to bring to Christmas dinner this year (so there would be something I could eat) and it was soooo delicious! Thank-you.
A Virtual Vegan says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it Tara!
Cheryl says
Hi Mel Re the ground flax seeds (AKA linseeds) can I grind them in my spice mill to a fine powder as a sub?
Cheryl
A Virtual Vegan says
Yes that will be fine!
Chessie says
This sounds wonderful for the holidays, or really any dinner in the cooler months. I’ve pinned it to try it. Lucky Mr. Virtual Vegan with such a toothsome loaf waiting for him at home!
A Virtual Vegan says
Ha ha! Thank you. I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to try it!