So this is our very first vegetarian Christmas and I have been working hard to find a main dish for the big day. I wanted something that had all the flavours of a traditional Christmas dinner. Something that had a little wow factor. But most of all I didn’t want any of us to feel like we were missing out. So we decided that this nut roast en croûte was perfect for our Christmas dinner.
We’ve road tested this a few times so as to avoid disaster, and I’ve played around with the flavours until I found the right combination for us. I was so pleasantly surprised when everyone loved it, I can’t tell you how happy I was. This just means that we can have a Christmas dinner with all the usual trimmings but without the meat. And the best bit is that this nut roast can be served cold the next day too. A vegetarian cold cut if you will.
For Christmas lunch, we will serve this with all the trimmings. The trimmings include roast potatoes, roasted carrots and parsnips and Brussels sprouts, we’re skipping the stuffing as this nut roast is quite filling. A good cranberry sauce is also on the cards as it actually goes really great with a slice of this nut roast as is a good vegetarian gravy. For St. Stephen’s Day/ Boxing Day we will have this nut roast cold with some good red onion chutney. Christmas sorted!
How to Make Nut Roast en Croûte:
Right, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. I use a mixture of nuts including walnuts, almonds and cashews. I find that the cashews add a little sweetness and creaminess however you could use any nuts here. Pistachios and brazil nuts would work very well too. For the rest of the mixture, I used chestnut mushrooms, carrots and butternut squash. I like these to be chopped up a little on the rustic side, however, I have also chopped everything quite fine and that works very well too.
For the herbs, well it has to be rosemary and sage to get those Christmas flavours. I also add dried oregano. Store bought roasted chestnuts and feta complete the mixture. To bind everything together I add an egg and some breadcrumbs, two small slices of white bread will usually do the trick. The whole thing is encased in shortcrust pastry then baked until golden brown. I use a ready made ready rolled pastry, you can make your own pastry if you wish but it’s Christmas, it’s busy and I don’t have time for that. I make no apologies for making my life easier 😉
Can I freeze this nut roast?
Yes, you can freeze this nut roast. You can freeze it before you cook it if you want. You will need to freeze it on a tray for about an hour first then transfer to a freezer friendly container and it will keep for up to a month. Defrost completely the night before cooking. Please note that the consistency may alter slightly if you do freeze this. If you have any leftovers the cooked nut roast en croûte will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat it in the oven or microwave.
So, friends, this is my last recipe of 2018, thank you so much for reading and following along with us as we switched to a vegetarian diet. I’m going offline for about two weeks to enjoy the holidays with my family and friends. I hope you are planning some downtime too. From my family to yours, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year Xx
Nut Roast en Croûte
A festive nut roast en croûte, perfect for a vegetarian Christmas dinner. Shortcrust pastry filled with butternut squash, nuts, herbs and feta. Delicious hot or cold.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion (200g) finely chopped
- 2 carrots (230g) peeled and finely chopped
- 200 g chestnut mushrooms wiped clean and finely chopped
- 400 g butternut squash cut into small cubes
- 3 fat cloves of garlic minced
- 1 heaped tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage
- 150 g mixed nuts, I used walnuts, almonds and cashews
- 1 x 180g pack of roasted chestnuts
- 1 large egg
- 80 g feta cheese
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 2 small slices of white bread turned into breadcrumbs in a food processor
- 1 x 320g roll of ready rolled shortcrust pastry + more for any decorations or patching up
- 3 or 4 tbsp milk
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 200/180 degrees 392F. I use a fan assisted electric oven please adjust temperatures according to your own oven.
Lightly grease a baking tray with olive oil.
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Heat the oil in a large sauté pan, add the onion and carrot and cook until the onion is soft over a medium heat, for about 10 minutes.
Then add the mushrooms, butternut squash and salt and pepper and cook for another 10 minutes.
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Now add the garlic and herbs and crumble in the chestnuts. Cook for about 5 minutes then take it off the heat and leave to cool.
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While that mixture is cooking toast the nuts in a large frying pan for about 5 minutes. Once you see them browning remove from the heat then add to a food processor and blitz until they are a rough crumble. Add those to the squash and mushroom pan.
Add the breadcrumbs and egg to the mixture and mix well, then add the feta and mix again.
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Unroll your pastry then using a rolling pin roll it out a little more.
Place the mixture onto the pastry and using your hands shape it into a sausage shape leaving room on the edges and leaving pastry to fold over. Please see the photo.
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Fold over the pastry, then fold up the edges. Turn the en croûte upside down onto the baking tray.
Now is the time to add any pastry decorations you wish to add or to patch up any rips or holes in the pastry.
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Brush the pastry with the milk then place on the middle shelf in the oven and cook for 40 to 45 minutes, turning the tray around halfway through cooking.
Once the pastry is golden brown all over then remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly before removing from the tray.
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Serve straight away with all the trimmings.
Recipe Notes
- You can make the filling a day ahead of time, just keep it covered in the fridge.
- Make your life easier and use ready made ready rolled pastry.
- Cold hands are sort of essential when handling pastry if you're like me and have warm hands then rinse your hands under the cold tap for a few minutes. I know this is slightly painful but it will be worth it.
- Please do a test run of this beforehand if you are planning to have it for Christmas dinner. Just to make sure you like it.
- This can easily be veganised, omit the cheese, use your favourite vegan shortcrust pastry. Use a flax egg to bind the mixture and use a plant milk to glaze the pastry.
More festive vegetarian recipes:
- Vegetarian Sausage Rolls
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries
- A Warm Winter Salad of Roasted Kalettes and Stilton
- Puff Pastry Mince Pie Squares
- Christmas Chocolate Bark
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more delicious food.
I’m really excited to find this recipe! I’ve been thinking a lot these last couple of months about how tricky the holidays can be for vegetarians and vegans – they often get sort of forgotten and have to cobble together their meals from a few side dishes that happen to be vegetarian. That’s not really very special, though – nothing to look forward to! I’ve seen nut roasts before, but nothing quite like this – so much “fancier” wrapped in pastry! This is truly special and fit for a celebration! Thank you so much for the recipe!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Shelley. I’m really glad you like it Xx
Wow, what a gorgeous and elegant meal. No one will miss the meat at all!
Thanks Pam x
Looks really celebratory. Looking at things in pastry for my vegan daughters so might make a dairy free version of this.
Hi Sally, this is really easy to make vegan. I hope your daughters enjoy it Xx
I love that this is a savory loaf. It sure is full of delicious healthy flavors.
I was just wondering what to cook for my vegetarian brother this Christmas…looks like you have me covered!
I hope he likes it Cliona Xx
This is absolutely gorgeous! I love all the holiday flavors you used in this too. What a great idea for a vegetarian entree!
Thanks so much Danielle Xx
I am loving the look of this recipe, things wrapped in pastry are always so good and this looks like a perfect vegetarian option!
Thanks so much Amy. And I agree pastry is always a good idea 😉
What an elegant meal! I’m sure no one would miss the meat with this and all the trimmings.
Wow. Simple ingredients come together to make something so elegant. The flavors look amazing. Warming the soul. Thank you for sharing.
This looks so impressive. I have a friend that will really appreciate this recipe. I’ll share this with her. Or maybe make it for her when she visits us next.
WOW!! This looks so delicious and gorgeous at the same time! Perfect for a holiday dinner.
This looks absolutely delicious! You won’t even miss the meat in this dish, I know I wouldn’t
Thank you so much Anne x
I’m so intrigued by this recipe. It sounds really wonderful and combines such a perfect blend of winter flavors. Thank you for sharing this!
I have never made anything like this before! Looks delish! And I’ve not made a vegetarian loaf like this before! So excited about trying this one!
This looks so festive. I am in love with the recipe. Something new to try. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 🙂
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe! The mixture of the nuts is brilliant and beautiful…this is stunning meal that all would enjoy! Can’t wait to try this!
Honestly, this en Croute looks like the best vegetarian centre piece on Christmas table. I’m totally intrigued to try this recipe, all the flavours, the filling…sounds delish to me!