We're thrilled to share our go-to recipe for a Festive Vegan Nut Roast. This dish is the ultimate holiday centerpiece, packed with nuts, veggies, and fragrant herbs. Perfect for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any special occasion, it’s a crowd-pleaser that never fails to impress.
Why You’ll Love This Festive Vegan Nut Roast
- Perfect for the Holidays: A beautiful and flavorful main dish that feels special.
- Nourishing and Filling: Packed with protein, fiber, and wholesome ingredients.
- Make-Ahead Option: Prep it a day before and bake it when needed.
- Customizable: Add your favorite ingredients to make it uniquely yours.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Nuts and Seeds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Flax seeds (for flax eggs)
- Chia seeds
Vegetables
- Onions
- Red peppers
- Celery
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Garlic
Additional Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Tomato puree
- Smoked paprika
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Fresh parsley
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs
- Cooked quinoa
- Nutritional yeast
Equipment You Will Need
- Baking tin
- Parchment paper
- Food processor
- Medium saucepan
- Chopping board
- Chef’s knife
- Mixing bowl
- Oven
How to Make a Festive Vegan Nut Roast
1. Prepare the Nuts
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Roast the cashews and walnuts for 12-15 minutes to bring out their flavors, then pulse them in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
2. Cook the Vegetables
Heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté onions and garlic until soft. Add red peppers, celery, carrots, and mushrooms, cooking until tender and fragrant.
3. Combine the Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the roasted nuts, cooked vegetables, tomato puree, smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, fresh parsley, breadcrumbs, cooked quinoa, and nutritional yeast. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Bind It Together
Prepare flax eggs by mixing ground flaxseeds with water and letting them sit for 5 minutes. Add the flax eggs and chia seeds to the mixture, stirring until well combined.
5. Shape and Bake
Line a baking tin with parchment paper and lightly grease it. Spoon the mixture into the tin, pressing it down firmly. Lower the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C), cover the tin with foil, and bake for 45-50 minutes.
6. Cool and Slice
Let the nut roast cool for 10 minutes before carefully removing it from the tin. Slice and serve with your favorite sides.
What to Serve with Festive Vegan Nut Roast
This dish pairs beautifully with these holiday sides:
- Roasted Root Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, carrots, and parsnips for a seasonal touch.
- Cranberry Sauce: Adds a tangy-sweet burst of flavor.
- Vegan Mashed Potatoes: Creamy and comforting, ideal for soaking up gravy.
- Steamed Greens: Brussels sprouts or green beans for a fresh, vibrant side.
- Vegan Red Wine Gravy: A rich, savory sauce that complements the roast.
Here is our Christmas Recipe Round Up Collection. And for desert, remember to try our Vegan Christmas Cake recipe!
Tips for the Best Festive Vegan Nut Roast
- Roasting the Nuts: This step adds depth of flavor and ensures a rich taste.
- Pack the Mixture Tightly: Pressing the mixture firmly into the tin helps the roast hold its shape.
- Add a Twist: Try adding dried cranberries or chestnuts for extra festive flair.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the mixture a day in advance and bake fresh when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to three months. Reheat in the oven when ready to serve.
You can substitute sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for the nuts to make it nut-free.
Yes! Feel free to experiment with ingredients like sage, rosemary, or even a touch of chili for a spicy kick.
Let's Get Cooking
This Festive Vegan Nut Roast is a celebration of flavor, texture, and nourishment. It’s the ultimate holiday dish that brings everyone together, whether they’re vegan or not. We can’t wait for you to try it - it’s always a hit at our table!
Don’t forget to share your creations and tag #HolisticChefAcademy on social media. Wishing you a healthy and happy and holiday season!
📋 Recipe
Festive Vegan Nut Roast
Equipment
- Weighing scales
- Chopping board
- Chefs knife
- Peeler
- Mixing bowl
- Saucepan - medium size
- Tray
- Oven tray
Ingredients
- 150 g Cashews
- 150 g Walnuts
- 30 ml Olive oil
- 200 g Onions diced
- 2 each Garlic cloves crushed
- 4 Red pepper - capsicum finely dice
- 100 g Celery finely dice
- 100 g Carrots grated
- 300 g Mushrooms
- 20 g Tomato - puree
- 3 g Smoked paprika
- 5 g Oregano
- 5 g Thyme
- 20 g Parsley
- 100 g Breadcrumbs - gluten free
- 250 g Quinoa cooked
- 20 g Flax seeds - golden 4 flaxseed eggs - ground & mix with water
- 40 g Chia seeds
- 10 g Nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F / 200c
- Onto an oven tray, add your mixed nuts.
- Cook the nuts for around 15 minutes.
- Pulse through a food processor for a few seconds. Keep them coarse in texture.
- Into a large pot, heat your oil on medium heat for around 30 seconds.
- Add onions and cook down for 5 minutes or until translucent.
- Now add in your celery, pepper, carrot, garlic and mushrooms.
- Cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables have softened and nicely roasted.
- Keep the pot on medium heat and add in your tomato paste, herbs + spices, roasted nuts, bread crumbs and, cooked quinoa.
- Cook for another 5-10 minutes, stirring gently to make sure everything is well combined.
- Prepare your flax egg by mixing the ground flaxseed with about 40ml of water.
- Remove the pot from heat and let it cool for a few minutes before adding the flax egg, ground chia seeds, and nutritional yeast.
- Stir well and check seasoning. Adjust with salt and pepper.
- Line baking tins or tray with parchment and lightly grease with oil.
- Begin adding your roast mixture into the tin and make sure to pack it down as you go.
- You really want everything to be tight and compact. If you do this properly you will end up with a perfect roast shape.
- Decrease oven temperature to 375F / 190c and bake in the oven, covered with tin foil for around 45 – 50 minutes.
- Once cooked remove from oven and let it cool in the tin for around 10 minutes before removing and cutting into pieces.
- Serve with tomato sauce or vegan red wine gravy.
- Merry Christmas!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!