Chickpea Oat "Loaf" [Food Processor Attachment]

Loved for Lifetimes Recipe

This hearty vegan meatloaf has texture and flavor to satisfy even the biggest appetites.

chickpea oat loaf

Ingredients

  • For the Oat "Loaf":
  • 1 medium (255 g) onion, quartered
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 (200 g) carrots, quartered
  • 2 (75 g) celery stalks
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, about 10 sprigs
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cans (920 g) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
  • ¾ cup (65 g) rolled oats
  • 2 Tablespoons (15 g) flax meal
  • 3 Tablespoons (30 g) Vegan Parmesan Cheese [or nutritional yeast]
  • ½ cup (120 ml) tomato sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon liquid aminos
  • For the Topping:
  • 10 (100 g) dates, pitted
  • ½ cup (120 ml) tomato sauce
  • ½ Tablespoon liquid aminos
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Prepare a 9 x13 loaf pan.Fit the Food Processor with the Multi-Use Blade.
  2. Place the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and thyme into the Vitamix container and secure the lid. Start the machine and process for 15 seconds. Heat a large sauté pan to medium high heat and add olive oil. Add the chopped vegetable mixture and sauté for 10 minutes.  
  3. While this mixture is cooking, add the chickpeas to the container and pulse 5 – 6 times making sure to pulverize the chickpeas to leave texture for the loaf.  
  4. Remove from heat and combine chickpeas, vegetable mixture, oats, flax meal, vegan parmesan, tomato sauce and liquid aminos in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Press mixture into the prepared loaf pan, cover, and place in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  5. While baking, add the topping ingredients into the Vitamix container and secure the lid. Start the machine and process for 15 seconds. 
  6. Place in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  After the loaf has cooked remove and add the tomato-date topping to the top of the loaf. Bake uncovered an additional 15 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and then cut into 8 slices.

Chef's Notes

  • Replacing meat with meatless alternatives is not only beneficial to the environment but to our bodies as well.  This dish is lower is fat, salt, and cholesterol compared to a traditional meatloaf and boasts significantly more fiber, vitamins, and minerals without sacrificing any of the flavor. This is a great recipe to add to our other hearty vegetable dishes like cauliflower mash and vegetable gravy.