Whether for Christmas, other festivities or for those nights you simply want something really hearty, this healthy and hearty vegan chickpea loaf will make a great centerpiece on your table.

If youโre searching for a tasty, nutritious, and wholesome alternative to traditional roasts or meatloaf, this vegan chickpea loaf is the perfect choice! Packed with plant-based protein, gluten-free, and wonderfully versatile, itโs sure to impressโand it makes a stunning centerpiece for your Christmas table!
This wholesome, meat-free loaf is incredibly simple to prepareโperfect for staying stress-free during the Christmas hustle. A great time-saver: you can prepare the bean loaf up to the point of baking the day before, leaving you with less to do on the big day.
This vegan Christmas roast is made with chickpeas, complemented by celery, carrot (or parsnip), and leek, along with a selection of spices and herbs. Once combined, the mixture is pressed into a baking dish and topped with a quick tomato glaze. After popping it in the oven, youโll have around 45 minutes free to handle other tasks, like setting the table or preparing sides.
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Step 1: Chop, sautรฉe and season your veggies.
- Step 2: Process the chickpea until curmbly.
- Step 3: Combine the crumbled chickpeas, oat flour, ground nuts and soaked flaxseeds.
- Step 4: Add the cooked vegetables and - using your hands - mix everthing to a homogenous mixture.
- Step 5: Transfer the chickpea mixture to a lined baking tin, pushing down evenly with your hand.
- Step 6: Prepare the easy glaze and spread on top of the loaf. Bake for around 45 minutes.
Ding! The chickpea meatloaf is done! Take it out of the oven, let it cool slightly, slice it up and enjoy your delicious Christmas dinner.
I hope you will try this recipe and maybe share it on Christmas with your loved ones. Add a few cooked potatoes or my healthy mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans on the side and you've got yourself a healthy and delicious dinner. Enjoy!
Tips & Variations
Processing Chickpeas: When using a food processor, only pulse a couple of times - do not over blend which will make them totally mushy. Alternatively, mash with a potato masher (or fork).
Nut-Free Option: Swap walnuts or almonds with sunflower seeds for a nut-free alternative.
Storage: This roast is great for advance preparation! Store it in the fridge and reheat it just before serving.
Flavor Boost: For an extra kick of umami, try adding a dash of liquid smoke.
Recipe
Chickpea Loaf
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 70 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Whether for Christmas, other festivities or for those nights you simply want something really hearty, this healthy and hearty vegan chickpea loaf will make a great centerpiece on your table.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp flaxseed meal
- 1 onion
- 2 gloves garlic
- 1 medium carrot or parsnip
- 1 leek
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 cans chickpeas (15 oz. each)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp marjoram, dried
- 1 tsp thyme, dried
- ยฝ tsp salt
- ยฝ tsp pepper
- 2 tsp vegan worcestershire sauce (or ketchup)
- 1 tsp mustard
- ยพ cup (75 g) rolled oats or oat flour
- ยฝ cup walnuts or almonds (50 g) or โ cup ground nuts
Glaze
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
Instructions
- Combine the ground flaxseeds with ยผ cup (60 ml) water and set aside.
- Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Peel the carrot or parsnip and dice as well. Slice up the celery and leek and wash thouroughly.
- In a large pan, sautรฉe onion and garlic in a bit of water for about 1 min. Add carrot, celery, leek, herbs, salt and peppfer and cook for 6-8 min until the vegetables have softened. You might need to add a bit more water to prevent the vegetables from burning.
- Preheat the oven to 350 ยฐF (175 ยฐC).
- If using whole oats and nuts, process them in a food processor to a coarse flour.
- Rinse and drain the chickpeas and mash in a big bowl using a potato masher or a fork until crumbly. Alterntively, pulse a few times in a food processor.ย
- Now add the ground nuts and oats, flax mixture, mustard, worcestershire sauce and mix. Lastly, add the cooked vegetables. Using clean hands, knead to combine.
- Press the loaf mixture in a 9 inch (23 cm) lined loaf pan, pushing down evenly with your hand.ย
- Stir together the ingredients for the glaze and spread onto the loaf.
- Bake for about 45 min. Take it out of the oven and let it cool for 4-5 min. Take the loaf out of the dish by lifting the baking paper. Slice and serve.
Notes
If you are using a wider baking dish, you may have to double the ingredients for the glaze and reduce the baking time a bit.
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Nathalie says
This looks so good ๐ Do you need to take the skins off the chickpeas or can you leave them on?
Melanie J says
Thanks, Nathalie! You can totally leave them on, no need to peel them ๐
Stacy says
It took longer than 10 minutes to prep but it was very good!
Melanie J says
Maybe I should change that number ๐ Thanks, Stacy!