Vegan Mincemeat
Author:Festive, rich & fruity Christmas Vegan Mincemeat steeped in boozy deliciousness! If you're looking for a mincemeat without suet recipe then I've got you covered! This is a Christmas staple that is really easy to make & can be used in all of your festive baking. It's also perfect for gifting.
Ingredients
- 300g / 2 slightly heaped cups raisins , (see recipe notes regarding substitutions for the dried fruits listed)
- 160g / 1 slightly rounded cup currants
- 140g / 1 slightly rounded cup dried cranberries
- 100g / ½ cup dried blueberries
- 80g / ½ cup dried cherries
- 80g / ½ cup dried figs , chopped
- 140g / 1 cup slivered almonds , (you can omit to make the recipe nut free)
- 2 lemons zest and juice
- 2 oranges zest and juice
- 1 large apple , grated
- 225g / 1½ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary chopped finely
- 375mls / 1.5 cups port , brandy, rum or sherry can be used instead but I think port give the best rich flavour. For an alcohol free version sub the port for unsweetened apple juice.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Set oven to 200°F (93 °C)
- Put all of the ingredients except the port in a large ovenproof bowl or casserole and mix together well.
- Cover tightly with tin foil or a lid and place in the oven. Leave to warm in the oven for 90 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Add the port and stir really well.
- Transfer the mixture into clean jars. Be sure to sterilize them if you will be storing for an extended period. See recipe notes below for how to sterilize.
NOTES
Feel free to sub any of the dried fruit listed for whatever dried fruits you have on hand, just be sure to keep the total quantity the same - my suggestions do give a great combination of flavour and texture though.
How to store
Store freshly made jars of vegan mincemeat in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
You can store it for up to a year (or more) though. It gets better and better with time. I always make extra and stash it away for Christmas the next year because it ends up tasting amazing. Note, only store it for extended periods if you used the alcohol. Alcohol acts as a preservative. If you use apple juice you will need to use it within 4 weeks or freeze it.
To store for up to a year (I've even stored it for 2 years with no problems) you will need to sterilize the jars.
How to sterilize jars - Wash the jars in very hot soapy water, rinse them in hot water to be sure any soap residue is gone, then place on a metal baking tray in a 350°F (175 °C) oven for 10 minutes. Remove them from the oven and fill the jars with the mincemeat immediately while they are still hot, being careful not to burn yourself. Seal tightly with a lid. Store in a cool dark place like the basement, under the stairs cupboard, or back of the closet, or the back of a cupboard where it won't be disturbed.
To freeze - Mincemeat can also be frozen for up to 6 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. Be sure to cool it completely first. If you want to keep if for a long time though I highly recommend keeping it in sterilized jars in a dark place over freezing because that way the flavour gets better and better. If you freeze it the mincemeat will be preserved but it won't get better. Defrost mincemeat in the fridge overnight.
WARNING: Bear in mind that this recipe contains a substantial amount of alcohol. As such it is not suitable for children. Although the alcohol content in a single portion of it probably isn't too much, please take it into consideration if you are going to be driving, operating heavy machinery, carrying out any other important tasks or eating a lot if it all in one go!
NUTRITION
Serving: 4tablespoons | Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.4mg
