LENTIL LOAF VEGETARIAN MEAT LOAF

LENTIL LOAF VEGETARIAN MEAT LOAF image

Yield 6 people

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups cooked lentils (about 1.5 cups uncooked), divided
1 small onion, diced
1/4 cup tomato sauce, plus more for topping, if desired (I actually use leftover spaghetti sauce most often)
1/2 cup oats, ground or 1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
salt
pepper
1 whole egg + 1 egg white, beaten
1/2 cup shredded cheese (I've used tons of variety here)

Steps:

Bring lentils (cleaned and picked over) to a low boil in about 5 cups of water. Cook 20-25 minutes or until soft. Drain water and remove 1 cup of lentils, set aside. Mash remaining 2 cups of lentils thoroughly with a potato masher or in a food processor. Fold in remaining lentils and diced onion. Mix. Add tomato sauce, bread crumbs, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and shredded cheese. Mix thoroughly. Add beaten egg mixture and mix thoroughly. Prepare a loaf pan by spraying it generously with cooking spray or lining it with aluminum foil and spraying that with cooking spray. Spread lentil mixture into loaf pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes or until top seems a little dried. Garnish with additional tomato sauce, if desired.