Walnut, Apricot, & Sage Nut Roast

It’s important to have at least one good nut roast recipe in your repertoire. It’s something that’s very good for making a good dish out of odds and ends that are in your house, and done well, it’s not only filling and nutritious, but a tasty treat too. Done badly, everyone knows the results can be unfortunate… Making this the perfect way to show off your skills!

You will need

• 1 cup walnuts
• ½ cup almonds
• ¼ cup whole mixed seeds (chia, pumpkin, & poppy are great)
• ¼ cup ground flax (also called flax meal)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 large carrot, grated
• 4 oz dried apricots, chopped
• 3 oz mushrooms, chopped
• 1 oz dried goji berries
• ½ bulb garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 2 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp black pepper, coarse ground
• 1 tsp yeast extract (even if you don’t like it; trust us; it will work) dissolved in ¼ cup hot water
• ½ tsp MSG or 1 tsp low-sodium salt
• Extra virgin olive oil

Method

(we suggest you read everything at least once before doing anything)

1) Preheat the oven to 350℉ / 180℃, and line a 2 lb loaf tin with baking paper.

2) Heat some oil in a skillet over a moderate heat, and fry the onion for a few minutes until translucent. Add the garlic, carrot, and mushrooms, cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring well. Set aside to cool a little once done.

3) Process the nuts in a food processor, pulsing until they are well-chopped but not so much that they turn into flour.

4) Combine the nuts, vegetables, and all the other ingredients in a big bowl, and mix thoroughly. If it doesn’t have enough structural integrity to be thick and sticky and somewhat standing up by itself if you shape it, add more ground flax. If it is too dry, add a little water but be sparing.

5) Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin, press down well (or else it will break upon removal), cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake for a further 15 minutes, until firm and golden. When done, allow it to rest in the tin for a further 15 minutes, before turning it out.

6) Serve, as part of a roast dinner (roast potatoes, vegetables, gravy, etc).

Enjoy!

Want to learn more?

For those interested in some of the science of what we have going on today:

• Why You Should Diversify Your Nuts!
• Chia Seeds vs Pumpkin Seeds – Which is Healthier?
• Apricots vs Peaches – Which is Healthier?
• Goji Berries: Which Benefits Do They Really Have?
• Ergothioneine: “The Longevity Vitamin” (That’s Not A Vitamin)

Take care!