Nut roasts are just that. Nuts that have been roasting away in the oven along with a medley of other vegetarian (and vegan-friendly) ingredients, if you’re making a vegan version of this staple dish.
Some people only eat them at Christmas time with all the trimmings, while others eat them all-year round.
Nut roasts are a regular occurrence on many vegetarian menus; you can eat them hot or cold too.
Some shop-bought nut roasts come with their own special sauce to drizzle over the top or you can smother them with gravy or eat them as they come. What’s more, nut roasts can be enjoyed by meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike.
They’re a highly versatile and widely-loved dish that’s really easy to ‘make your own’ (straightforward nut roasts are also really easy to make too). Keep reading for the lowdown on nut roasts, as well as an easy-to-follow nut roast recipe.
What is a nut roast?
Contrary to their name, nut roasts aren’t just a tray of roasted walnuts, almonds and pistachios.
While these ingredients are used to add texture and a subtle delicious taste, nut roasts are also made up of vegetables, grains, oils and seasoning.
All of these ingredients are mixed together and cooked for no more than an hour in the oven in a loaf tin.
Some nut roasts even come with their own savoury sauce or you can choose to drizzle it in some tasty gravy instead.
For a more traditional nut roast with a classic country taste, the Artisan Country Vegetable & Cashew version makes a tasty centrepiece.
Combining peanuts and cashews with breadcrumbs and a whole host of country veg, it’s a nice traditional option that goes really well with roast potatoes, honeyed carrots and Brussel sprouts.
If you prefer a taste of the exotic, try the Artisan Mediterranean Sundried Tomato Nut Roast instead.
Summary
- Nut roasts aren’t just made from nuts
- They’re made from a combination of nuts, as well as fresh vegetables, grains, oils and seasoning
- Nut roasts are full of flavour, protein and vitamins, and can be tailored to your tastebuds
- Plus, they’re really straightforward to cook!
Can I freeze nut roast?
As we’ve just mentioned, freezing is most definitely an option when it comes to nut roasts. The main thing to remember is, cook it first before freezing. It’ll keep better that way.
Summary
- Cooked nut roasts can be prepared the night before you cook them
- Once cooked, will last for around six days in the fridge
- It’s also possible to freeze them too - a frozen loaf of nut roast will keep in your freezer for up to three months
Is a nut roast healthy?
If you eat it in moderation, i.e. a slice here and there, rather than consuming an entire loaf in one sitting, you can manage those calories.
And, if you think about what’s in an actual nut roast, e.g. lots of fresh veg and nuts of your choice, there are plenty of plus points to eating them.
Summary
- Nut roasts contain a lot of ingredients and, because of this, they can contain quite a few calories too
- However, a lot of the ingredients, such as the fresh veg and nuts, are packed full of nutrients; so a slice every now and then provides plenty of goodness
How do you make your own nut roast?
If you’d rather have a go at creating your own nut roast, there are plenty of recipes out there for you to try.
Here’s a mouth-watering recipe for a nut roast that uses aubergine and mushrooms as its core ingredients.
Nut roast recipe video
Before you scroll down, if you’re more of a visual learner and would much rather prefer to see the nut roast come together rather than read about it, you may want to watch this video instead.
Is this nut roast vegan?
No, this particular nut roast recipe isn’t vegan, but there’s no reason why it can’t be.
It’s possible to switch the non-vegan ingredients, such as eggs and cheese, to vegan alternatives. In fact, it’s what we’ve already done for you, see below…
Nut roast recipe
Serves: 6
Difficulty: Easy with minimal prep time
Can it be frozen? Yes, it’s best to cook it first if you’re planning on freezing it.
Cooking equipment needed: Loaf tin, greaseproof paper, frying pan, chopping knife, foil and a spoon to stir all of your ingredients together while cooking.
Nutrients per serving
| Energy | Total fat | Saturates | Protein | Fibre | Carbs | Sugar | Salt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 566kcal | 35g | 5.4g | 27g | 7.7g | 31g | 8.7g | 21.6g |
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 sticks celery, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 200g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1 red pepper, finely diced
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 100g red lentils
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 300ml vegetable stock
- 100g fresh breadcrumbs
- 150g chopped nuts of your choice
- 3 large, beaten eggs – vegan alternatives: pureed tofu, egg replacer, tapioca or potato flour
- 100g of 30% reduced fat cheese, grated – vegan alternatives: vegan cheese,
- Handful flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
Method
1
Line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper and preheat the oven to 180˚.
2
Cook the chopped onion and celery in a frying pan with the butter and oil. After five minutes, add in the garlic and mushrooms. Cook for ten more minutes.
3
Stir in the red pepper, carrot, oregano and paprika and cook for a few minutes before adding the red lentils and tomato puree. Stir for a minute before pouring in the vegetable stock.
4
Simmer the mixture until all the liquid has been absorbed then take it off the hob and let it cool.
5
Once cool, add the breadcrumbs, nuts, beaten egg, cheese, parsley and some salt and pepper. Mix well and place in the loaf tin, pressing down at the edges.
6
Cover the tin with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake again for 10-15 minutes or until the mixture is firm to the touch.
7
Let the loaf cool for about ten minutes before transferring to a board or serving dish. Cut into slices and serve with lots of roast vegetables and plenty of gravy.
Some things for you to try with your nut roast
- Put a secret layer of pesto (vegan or non-vegan) in the centre
- Or add a creamy mushroom sauce in the middle
- Vary the flavour by using just one type of nut, e.g. cashews or almonds
- Give your nut roast a protein boost by adding some smoked tofu or beans
- Mix in some leeks, cheese (vegan or non-vegan) and cranberries
- Take your cold nut roast and crumble it over a salad for a nutty twist or;
- Mash it into your bubble and squeak for more texture and a greater range of flavours
Nut roasts are incredibly versatile, don’t be afraid to experiment with yours once you’ve gotten into the swing of making a basic one!
A final few words about nut roasts….
Nut roasts aren’t just for Christmas, you know. And they’re not just full of nuts either (although you can mix and match which nuts you use and add in as little or as many of them as you like).
These nutty, ingredient-packed loaves are full of fresh ingredients and can be tailored to your tastebuds.
While they’re a widely-enjoyed vegetarian dish, they can also be adapted to be vegan-friendly, with just a couple of ingredient tweaks.
You can eat a slice or two on its own, hot or cold, or with lashings of gravy or nut roast sauce – if you’ve bought yours from the shop and it comes with one.
You can have them all ready to cook the night before you eat them and you can keep them in your fridge for almost a week, and in your freezer for up to three months.
Oh, and they’re really easy to make, which you’ll hopefully have seen from our video recipe. What’s not to love about nut roasts!
Last updated: 9 August 2021
