This vegetable loaf came about as the result of the challenge that we, the 4 Velveteers, set for ourselves this month. One thing I really enjoy about being in this group is the sheer variety of challenges, which really make us go beyond our comfort zones and explore possibilities we probably wouldn’t otherwise. I also like the creative freedom that allows each one of us works on one theme but interprets the challenge in our own unique way with a recipe of our choice.
This month’s challenge, Asha‘s choice, was to create a savoury dish in which fruits (fresh or dried) played a defining role in terms of providing flavour to the overall dish. No fruit salads allowed!
In my traditional style of cooking fruit, especially mangoes and ripe plantains and to a lesser extent pineapple and grapes, are regularly used in savoury dishes. I thought I would look outside India, however, for this challenge as it would mean cooking something I hadn’t tried before.
Searching out fruit in savoury dishes type of combinations, I realized that most western style cooking involved fruit based sauces which were served with meat or poultry. Then I came across a vegetarian recipe which seemed to hold some promise. I have wanted to make a vegetable loaf for sometime now and the time had finally arrived.
Now, I’m not sure where this month has gone exactly. Apart from routine everyday happenings, I have a lot more happening keeping me busy that I haven’t found the time to do this challenge till now. I’m also 2 days beyond the deadline! But, I do believe that it is better to be a bit late than never, so here I am.
This vegetable loaf is savoury and sweet notes are provided by dried apricots (and raisins if you will consider them as fruit) in the loaf and fresh mango and mango chutney in the the accompanying sauce.
The recipe I chose contained eggs which I wanted to avoid. I halved that recipe, substituted the eggs with bread and chickpea flour (besan) and added a little more vegetables. I made some changes to adjust for availability of ingredients and taste. I added a bit more spice, as I found the original a bit bland for our tastes.
If you would like to try this loaf, I would suggest taking a look at the original recipe as you might find that more suited to your taste.
While we found the loaf quite moist and tasty even though it looks a bit dry on the top. This because I did not pour some sauce on the loaf halfway through baking, as I didn’t want my savoury loaf to be too sweet.
I think it might have tasted better if I had baked them better as cutlets/ patties as these would have been crisper than the loaf. This is not a reflection on the vegetable loaf, but just our personal preference.
So you could choose to bake the loaf for brunch or as cutlets for a snack.
To serve with the vegetable loaf, I used readymade jalapeño jam and mango chutney with fresh mango to make a sweet, salty and quite spicy chutney-like thick sauce. If you prefer, you may serve it with another sauce/ chutney of your choice.
Eggless Vegetable And Nut Loaf.
(Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)
Eggless Vegetable-Nut Loaf With A Sweet And Spicy Mango Jalapeño Sauce
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup red lentils dry (masoor dal)
- 1 carrot medium , grated (approx. 1/4 cup)
- 6 to 8 green beans , finely sliced (approx. 1/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup cabbage , finely shredded
- 1/3 cup apricots snipped dried
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1 onion medium , chopped
- 2 to 3 tbsps coriander chopped
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp garlic paste
- red chilli flakes (to taste)
- 3 bread slices (small) day old
- 2 tbsps chickpea flour (besan)
- 3/4 cup brown rice cooked
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup walnuts toasted and chopped
- to taste salt
Instructions
- Cook the red lentils in water till done. You can do this by adding the lentils to 1 1/2 cups water and bringing this to a boil. Turn down the heat to medium, cover and cook for about 10 minutes till done. Drain the water and keep aside.
- Otherwise pressure cook the lentils with 1 cup water till done, like I did.
- Tear up the bread slices into large chunks and run in the blender till they become crumbs (flakes). Keep aside.
- Heat the oil in a pan, and sautxe9 the onions and garlic paste till the onions become soft. Add the apricots, raisins, carrots, beans and cabbage and stir fry till cooked and tender. Add the garam masala and salt (to taste, as more salt has to be added later) and cook for a minute and take the pan off the heat.
- In a large bowl, put the cooked mixture, crumbed bread, chickpea flour, the cooked rice, cooked lentils, baking powder, chilli flakes, walnuts, salt (as required) and chopped coriander. Using your fingers, mix everything together well.
- Press the mixture into a small greased loaf tin. Bake at 180C (350F) for about 30 to 40 minutes till done.
- Take the loaf out and allow it to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Remove from the tin and cool until still slightly warm. Slice with a sharp serrated knife and serve with a sweet and spicy chutney (recipe below) or ketchup, if you prefer.
The Cooking Ninja says
What a great and interesting one! Looks yummy. :)Btw: my post is up. Hope you’ll like it. I made Green Papaya Curry. 😉
Jaya Wagle says
That looks like a more delicious and vegetarian version of meat loaf. I have to try this as soon I am allowed to be off my feet.PS: I never got any email about the challenge this month. Have I been dropped from the Velveteers? I hope not. 🙁
Ken says
I am loving this nut loaf. The ingredients just makes my mouth water.
Asha @ FSK says
I like loafs like meat loaf, have yet to try a veggie one. I am amazed that it syaed together without the egss coz they are the binding agent but I suppose molding it in a pan gave it shape!next time, you could bake with ketchup or bbq sauce on top for moistness. that is usually how meat loaf is made..love this entry for the challenge!! :))
Prerna@IndianSimmer says
Wow, Aparna what a great recipe!I always hunt for wholesome recipes like this one so that I can give to to my “food hater” daughter. Making this for lunch today and ‘m really hoping she likes it.Thanx a lot for sharing. Keep coming with such awesome healthy recipes.. Love it!
Torviewtoronto says
this is delicious and healthy
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
wow, I am bookmarking mango jalapeno sauce, loving it 🙂
Sharmilee! :) says
Wow perfect loaf u’ve got!
Pavithra says
Wow aparna loved this recipe and healthy loaf..looks super good ..
Prathibha says
Nice recipe……looks good…..will give a try sometime
Alka says
Looks so inviting ! And the sweet and spicy sauce sounds so delicious !
betty says
looks great!thanks for sharing :)xx
Maria says
The recipe is so interesting and it has so many flavours that I really like! I’ll bookmark this, thanks for sharing! 🙂
mala says
thanks for the lovely veg nut loaf. By red lentils, do you mean tur dhal or masoor dhal? mala
Aparna says
Thanks, Pam. Saw your papaya curry and it reminded me that we cook with semi-ripe papaya too. :)No Jaya, you haven’t been dropped. 🙂 Think you would have got a mail by now.Thanks Ken. :)Asha, I used bread and chickpea flour as binder instead of the eggs. That helped and of course, so did the loaf pan. :)I didn’t want the ketchup and didn’t use the sauce which was suggested in the original recipe because I didn’t want my loaf too sweet. It was quite moist from the lentils.Hope you like this, Prerna. Would love to hear how you found it.Mala, the red lentils are masoor dal. Sorry about that. Have updated my post.
heidi says
wow, this sounds like a feast of flavors. I’m so intrigued. Aparna, could you share how many eggs the original recipe has on it?. (I would like to give it a try with the eggs instead the bread crumbs).thanks.
Akila says
simply superb dear.. http://akilaskitchen.blogspot.com
Aparna says
Heidi, it is indeed a mix of interesting flavours. The original recipe has 3 eggs, and mine is a halved adaptation.
Ragini Miranda's Kitchen says
First time at your blog !! Love your recipes !! am following your blog ..do drop by mine atwww.happyhealthyfuncooking.blo….
Madhuri says
Wow! you are amazing! I should try this over coming weekend.
aipi says
That is one delish looking veg loaf..the mango jalepeno sauce is just too good!!I am definitely book marking both of them!:)http://usmasala.blogspot.com/
jodye @ 'scend food says
I’m always looking for new ways to make vegetable loaves more interesting, and adding a mango jalapeno sauce sounds absolutely perfect! Thank you for the inspiration!
Jayashree says
Delicious looking loaf.
jayasree says
Loaf sounds interesting with variety of flavors. As you suggested, even I got the idea of cutlets seeing the ingredient list. Loaf looks delectable.
veena krishnakumar says
wow!! this looks so delicious, another bookmark
Tasty Eats At Home says
Such a unique meal! I’d be very curious to try. Lots of yummy flavors going on there.
G.Pavani says
looks yummy n tempting n nice click..
bake in paris says
Haven’t made any savoury loaf before, this delicious-looking photo and recipe are suitable for my first try…Sawadee from bangkok,Kris
Soma says
This is such a beautiful recipe. I guess the bread and the brown rice must have kept it together? Loving the mango jalapeno sauce. Lip smacking good.
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