Vegan Nut Roast / Snack Ball Recipe

I came up with this recipe as an idea for food to take to a party with lots of vegan guests.  If you are quick at chopping it doesn’t take long and they are always really popular.

If you are looking for a snack to keep your blood sugar steady, or reduce cholesterol, these are ideal, high in protein and fibre, easy to eat hot or cold and lush with a dip like hummus, minty yoghurt or chilli sauce. 

They are great in lunchboxes, in a pitta bread with salad or even as a vegan option at a roast dinner.  Easily made into a nut roast by cooking in a bread tin then slicing.

Below is my favourite way of making these but don’t panic if you don’t have all the ingredients.  All you really need is a packet of stuffing, an onion and some chopped nuts and or seeds.  The rest just gives extra flavour.

You can change the spices to give different tastes.  I sometimes use half stuffing and half falafel mix and add lots of north African spices like cinnamon and chilli.

As with all my recipes, all measurements are approximate, so feel free to do it your own way!

Ingredients

1 packet of stuffing mix (170g) Mix with water as per instructions.

1 tbs olive oil

1 large onion finely chopped

50g mixed nuts and seeds chopped or whizzed in grinder

1 red pepper finely chopped

2 sticks celery finely chopped

2 large cloves garlic, minced

2 fresh sage leaves chopped

handful of parsley chopped

Spices to taste I used:

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp 5 spice

Worcestershire sauce to taste

Method

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and vegetables until soft.  Make up the stuffing mix and leave to soak.  Once the vegetables are soft but not brown add the spices and garlic.  When the stuffing mix is ready gradually stir into the vegetable mix.   When it’s all mixed together allow to cool so that you can make the balls.

Heat oven to 200 ˚C / 390 ˚F or Gas Mark 6.  Roll 1 tsp of the mixture in your hands to form a ball.  Bake on greased oven tray for approx 20 minutes turning once.  Alternatively press into a greased loaf tin to make a nut loaf.  This may need cooking for slightly longer.

Enjoy.