Serves 6-8
Festive Quinoa Nut Roast with Cranberries
I had never made a nut roast before but, ‘oh my’, I am delighted with this one! I don’t often eat quinoa, but it works perfectly here, and together with the pistachios, hazelnuts, cranberries and butternut squash, provides many essential nutrients, protein and fibre.
It does take a little prep, but it’s worth it. Plus it’s a lovely way to involve others in the kitchen over Christmas (including little helpers!).
INGREDIENTS
- 600g butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into small chunks (about 1cm)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 sprigs rosemary, leaves picked
- 8 sprigs thyme, leaves picked
- 250g quinoa
- 250g chestnut mushrooms, chopped into small pieces
- 2 small red onions, finely chopped
- 60g pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped
- 50g hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
- 250g cranberries
- 1/2 orange zested and juiced
- 1 tsp of honey or coconut nectar
- 2 large eggs
- 150g chestnut puree
STEP-BY-STEP
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 6. Toss the butternut squash with 1 tbsp olive oil, rosemary, half of the thyme leaves and seasoning. Roast for 30 mins until the squash is softened and caramelised at the edges.
Meanwhile, put the quinoa in a pan with 275ml cold water and bring to the boil, cover and lower the heat. Cook gently for 5-10 mins until the quinoa has absorbed all the water. Turn off the heat and leave to rest for 10 mins.
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add the onions the rest of the thyme leaves and seasoning and cook over a low heat for 10 mins until softened. Add the mushrooms and fry for another 5 mins.
Pop the cranberries in a pan with the orange zest, orange juice and honey / coconut nectar. Cook for 2-3 mins until just starting to burst.
When you are ready to cook the roast, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line the base and sides of a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment. Spoon the cranberries into the bottom of the tin. In a large bowl mix together the quinoa, butternut squash, onion, mushrooms, nuts and seasoning. Whisk the egg and chestnut puree together then mix into the quinoa. Spoon the quinoa on top of the cranberries and gently push down.
Cover the tin with tin foil and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Leave the nut roast in the tin for 10mins.
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