Savory Lentil Loaf

This lacto-ovo vegetarian recipe is one of the ones I've been making longest. It comes from a recipe card collection you would subscribe to buy one packet at a time, dated 1984. Even after lapsing from vegetarianism, it has remained a favorite and is just as tasty, just as filling as meat-based meatloaf. I find the recipe as given a bit dry without glaze, and have added a brown sugar-ketchup glaze, the same one used on the my family's meatloaf when I was a child. No one was thrilled with the hard-cooked eggs in the original so those have been omitted. Bread crumbs work when I have a failed gluten-free bread baking experiment, but I discovered that half a tube of prepared polenta makes a very creamy stretcher when crumbs aren't available.

1 cup Lentils?
2 to 2 1/2 cups water

Pick over the lentils while dry to remove debris or shriveled lentils, and rinse in a strainer. Pour into large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer until tender. Depending on the variety and age, cooking time may take anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour.

2 small or 1 large Onion?, chopped
1 stalk Celery?, chopped
2 cloves Garlic?, minced
2 tbsp Olive Oil?

Preheat oven to 350. In a skillet, saute the onion, celery and garlic in oil, adding garlic at the last minute.

1/2 tube (16 to 20 oz) prepared polenta, chopped OR 1 cup soft gluten-free Bread Crumbs?
2 cups Cheddar Cheese?, shredded
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp ground Sage?
1/2 tsp ground Thyme?
1/2 tsp Black Pepper?

In a large mixing bowl, mix the cooked lentils, sauteed vegetables, polenta or bread crumbs, cheese, egg, and spices. Place the mixture in a greased loaf pan.

Brown Sugar Ketchup Glaze

1/2 cup Ketchup?
4 tablespoons rapadura or brown Sugar?
1 1/2 teaspoons ground Mustard?

Spread top with glaze. Bake for 1 hour at 350. Cool for 5 minutes before slicing or inverting.

Source: adapted from My Great Recipes card packet 20 card 15

• The original - http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1726,153169-255207,00.html
• Another version common on the web - http://www.aaa-recipes.com/cornflake/savory-lentil-loaf.html

DRY HEAT ENTREE (BAKING, ROASTING)

MethodCategory?: Oven

GenerationX?, Vegetarian?

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