Holiday Recipe: Nut Loaf Wrapped In Pastry

Nut, Grain & Veggie Mixture Baked In Pastry Shell, Lacto-Veg or Vegan

This holiday nut loaf recipe was contributed by renowned Fairfield IA cook, Olivia Sinton. It's lacto vegetarian, with vegan options. We made it vegan, and it worked well. We also made 1/3 the recipe for a single loaf, with 4 generous servings.

This nut loaf is a more elaborate recipe than usual for us, but well worth making for a vegetarian or vegan Thanksgiving or Christmas instead of turkey. It's delicious served with Cashew Gravy, Cranberry Orange Sauce, and baked butternut squash.

10 - 12 Servings: This nut loaf recipe makes 3 loaves, enough for 10-12 people. Once assembled, it bakes in 40 - 50 minutes. Prepare pastry dough first and chill it in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

Pastry Ingredients For Three Loaves:

• 2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
• 2 cups unbleached white flour
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, room temperature
• 4 Tbsp water
• Vegan Option: Use our vegan pie crust recipe and TRIPLE THE RECIPE

Pastry Directions:

• Cream butter or veggie spread with water and 2/3 of flour
• Add remaining flour to form a firm dough
• Knead until smooth and silky
• Wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap (a plastic produce bag will do) and refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour
• When the filling is ready, divide dough into 3 portions and roll out into rectangles

Nut Loaf Filling Ingredients:

• 3 cups roasted nuts finely ground - blanched almonds, hazelnuts or a mixture of the two. Use a small food processor, or blender to grind the nuts. A coffee or spice grinder will work, in small batches
• 1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup dry bulgur
• 1/4 cup quinoa
• 1/4 cup amaranth
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup grated carrot
• 1 cup celery, finely chopped
• 1 tsp dried thyme leaf
• 1 tsp dried basil leaf
• 1 tsp dried oregano leaf
• 2 Tbsp olive oil or ghee
• 8 oz. cream cheese OR 8 oz silken tofu + 1 Tbsp lemon juice OR 8 oz vegan sour cream
• 1 cup vegetable soup stock OR 1 cup water + 1 veggie bouillon cube
• 1 tsp salt or to taste
• 1 tsp fresh gr pepper to taste
• 2 Tbsp Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or Tamari Soy Sauce
• Optional: 2 - 4 cloves fresh minced garlic. Olivia doesn't use garlic, but add if you like

Filling Directions:

1. Roast nuts on a shallow roasting pan at 300 degrees for 15 minutes.
2. Use a small food processor, or blender to grind the nuts. A coffee or spice grinder will work, in small batches
3. Add bulgur, quinoa and amaranth to water in a 1 - 2 qt saucepan. Bring to boil, cover & simmer 15 minutes.
4. Combine cooked grains with nuts and bread crumbs in a large bowl. Mix well.
5. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium low
6. If you're using garlic, add and sauté for 5 minutes
7. Add the veggies and sauté 5 minutes or until softened
8. Combine with grains, nuts, veggie stock, and other seasonings
9. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
10. Roll out the chilled dough into three 10 x 13 inch rectangles
11. Place 1/3 of filling in center of each pastry rectangle, leaving 2 - 3 inches of dough all round
12. Fold pastry around filling, wet the edges, press together and fold over to seal
13. Place loaves on a baking sheet, seam side down, and make shallow slits on the top
14. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then 375 degrees until golden - another 30-45 minutes