Quinoa Loaf

OceanLuvinGranny's Note:

I foound this on the 3ABN recipe website and tried it. My family actually liked it too and they are fussy eaters! It is one that you can add your own favorite things to and it will adapt well. Just make sure that you diced or grate your added ingredients so that the loaf will cook correctly. It is a great vegetarian meatloaf substitute! If you use the egg for the non-vegan version, start with one egg and if it is still too stiff, add one at a time until the correct loaf texture.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8-10

Yield: 1.0 loaf

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup cashews, ground
• 1 cup carrot, grated
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup white button mushrooms, grated
• 1/4 cup soy sauce, unfermented
• 1/4 cup tahini (or flax seed mixture for the vegan version)
• 1 egg (for the non-vegan version)
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
• 1 lb tofu, firm
• vegetable broth, for sauteeing

Directions:

1. Bring water to boil and add quinoa. Immediately cover and remove from heat. Do not uncover until ready to use.
2. Saute' onion, mushrooms, carrot, & celery until soft in a small amount of vegetable broth.
3. In large bowl, crumble tofu and combine with other ingredients including cooked quinoa.
4. Place in loaf pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray or you can use an 8 inch baking dish.
5. Cover and Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
6. Remove cover the last 10 minutes. Serve with a gravy made of mushroom soup mixed with sour cream. Or, you can use a brown gravy.