Nut Roast with Cranberries

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil 
  • medium leeks, finely sliced 
  • rosemary sprigs, leaves only, roughly chopped 
  • thyme sprigs, roughly chopped 
  • cloves garlic, finely chopped 
  • 250g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped 
  • sage leaves, roughly chopped 
  • 600g mixed pecans, cashews and hazelnuts 
  • 150g Gruyère cheese, grated 
  • eggs 
  • 150g dried cranberries 
  • To taste Salt and pepper 
  • A little butter, to grease 
  • 125g frozen cranberries, thawed 
  • bay leaves, to decorate (optional) 

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F.
  2. Heat the oil in a frying pan fry the leeks, rosemary and thyme for a few minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and sage, cook for 2 minutes then remove from the heat transfer to a large bowl and leave to cool.
  3. Place the nuts on a baking tray and toast in the oven for about 8 minutes. Leave to cool then chop finely before adding to the leek mixture.
  4. Add the gruyère, eggs and dried cranberries, season and mix well.
  5. Grease a 2lb loaf tin and line with baking parchment. Transfer the mix to the tin and cook for 50-55 minutes. The nut roast should feel firm and a skewer inserted into the middle should come out clean. Cook for a further 10-15 minutes if required.
  6. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out and removing the baking parchment. Decorate with the thawed cranberries and the bay leaves and serve immediately.