The Best Vegan Lentil Loaf

I started making vegan lentil loaf as my Thanksgiving main dish several years ago, using this recipe. Over time I've experimented with changing ingredients and measurements until I finally came up with this delicious and filling version.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Loaf Ingredients

• Dry green or brown lentils: I like the flavor of green lentils, but you can use your choice. Don't substitute red lentils, because they'll be too mushy. French green lentils aren't the same as green lentils; the texture of those is too tough for this recipe. I also don't recommend canned lentils because the flavor is not as good and you can't control the texture.

• Ground flaxseed and water: This is the binder that holds the loaf together so it won't crumble and fall apart when you slice it.

• Extra-virgin olive oil: For cooking and softening the vegetables; you could use another type of oil here if you prefer.

• Onion and celery: Be sure to chop these into fine pieces; if the pieces are too big, you may have trouble getting your loaf to hold together.

• Garlic: For flavor; be sure to mince finely. You could also add garlic powder into the seasoning paste instead of using fresh garlic, but I like to use fresh ingredients whenever possible.

• Carrots: These should be finely grated to be easily incorporated into the loaf.

• Raisins: The sweetness of the raisins balances the savory loaf flavors; however, if you dislike raisins, you can leave them out without affecting the integrity of the loaf.

• Pineapple: Pineapple is the key to this lentil loaf's tender texture and adds a slight sweetness and acidity to the flavor. However, rest assured that your loaf won't taste like pineapple! Chop the pineapple finely and use your fingers to mash, draining the juices to use in the glaze. Make sure you aren't using the firm core of the pineapple.

• Rolled oats and oat flour: These help absorb some of the moisture from the loaf to keep it from becoming mushy, and add structure. You could replace them with breadcrumbs and all-purpose flour, but those will be more absorbent so you should use about 2 tablespoons less of each one.

Glaze and Seasoning Paste Ingredients

• Ketchup: For rich tomato flavor, acidity, and a hint of sweetness.

• Coconut aminos or soy sauce: Adds umami flavor to the loaf; using coconut aminos keeps the loaf gluten-free.

• Vegan Worcestershire sauce: Both Annie's and 365 (Whole Foods) have vegan versions of Worcestershire sauce. To keep this recipe gluten-free, look for a gluten-free version (such as 365) or make your own, using coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.

• Thyme, oregano, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper: Add flavor to the lentil loaf; feel free to use any blend of seasonings you like here.

• Maple syrup: Sweetens the glaze.

• Pineapple juice: From the mashed pineapple you used in the loaf; this adds some acidity and sweetness to the glaze.

• Balsamic vinegar: Adds some acidity and a rich, fruity flavor to the glaze.

How to Serve Lentil Loaf

Lentil loaf makes a great main course, especially for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It pairs well with so many sides, including salad, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and green beans.

Here are some more great vegan recipes you can make that pair perfectly with this lentil loaf:

• Carrot Pumpkin Soup

• Vegan Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes

• Mashed Butternut Squash

• Loaded Vegan Baked Potato

• Maple-Roasted Carrots with Cashew-Tahini Sauce

• Vegan Green Bean Casserole

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

If you have leftovers, you can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze lentil loaf slices for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. I recommend freezing the slices on a parchment-lined baking tray first, then transferring them to a freezer bag or container so they're easier to pull apart later. You could also freeze them in your freezer container, separating each slice with a small piece of parchment paper.

To reheat leftovers, first defrost the slices thoroughly if they're frozen. Then wrap individual slices in foil (to keep them from drying out) and reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 12-15 minutes, until heated through.

Making Lentil Loaf in Advance

This lentil loaf is great for the holidays because it lends itself to being made a day or two ahead of time. Just prepare the loaf and glaze as usual (keep the glaze separate for now), then cover and refrigerate both until you're ready to bake.

At least an hour before baking, remove the loaf and glaze from the refrigerator. After an hour, add the glaze, then bake. You may need to add 5 minutes to your bake time, depending on how cold or warm your loaf was when you put it in the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make this recipe gluten-free? Most of the ingredients in this lentil loaf are already gluten-free. But you'll need to pay attention to two ingredients: soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Be sure to use coconut aminos in place of soy sauce. Worcestershire sauce commonly contains soy sauce as well, so you'll need to find a vegan and gluten-free brand (such as Whole Foods' 365), or you can make your own using coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.

Can I adjust the seasonings or add other seasonings to the loaf? Yes, you can add or change seasonings or flavors to your preferred taste. Dry ingredients shouldn't present any problem, but be cautious about adding too much liquid (i.e. ketchup, sauces), as that could keep the loaf from holding together.

Why is there pineapple in this recipe? One of the keys to this recipe is pineapple. It might seem odd to be putting pineapple into a lentil loaf, but it's the secret to its tender texture. And it adds just a bit of flavor to the vegetable loaf without a fruity taste. The taste is very subtle and most people would probably never know there's pineapple in this loaf.

Should I use fresh or canned pineapple? I use fresh pineapple, but if you can only get canned pineapple at the grocery store (or find it easier to work with), others have had good results with that as well!

I don't like raisins, can I leave them out? Yes! Raisins are a personal preference that people feel strongly about (for better or worse), so if you don't like them you can leave them out without affecting the overall consistency of the loaf.

Why is my lentil loaf mushy? This can happen when there's too much liquid in the loaf, often because of the lentils. Make sure you're draining your lentils well after cooking; if you used canned lentils, that could be the culprit; I recommend cooking dry lentils instead. This also might happen if you included the juice from the pineapple in the loaf instead of using only the pieces.