Lentil and Mushroom Loaf

There are many ways to define the term comfort food.

I suppose comfort food is directly related to memories of my childhood favorites – and many of those memories dance around in my head whenever I need a bit of soul-cuddling. One is the classic American-style meatloaf dish that is often served with mashed potatoes and a thick gravy. My mother made an excellent version that I always looked forward to. I also secretly hoped for plenty of leftovers to indulge in the following day – delicious with plenty of Dijon-style mustard.

This recipe is my attempt to replicate those memories…only without animal products.

The mixture requires an hour or two of preparation – work that can be done in stages. But the actual loaf comes together rapidly once the prep work is complete.

The real bonus with this recipe is how easy it converts to a burger recipe or meatballs to go with your pasta dish – think of it as your go-to plant-based alternative to ground beef.

Difficulty moderate
Yield: makes enough for 6-8 servings