This one was a tricky one. When I started writing my Vegmas recipes list, I knew I obviously had to include a main course dish. But here’s the thing, I still love last year’s. And, of course, I could come up with something else, use different ingredients, whatever. But I didn’t want to. When December 25th rolls around this year, that lentil and squash dish is likely what I’ll be eating. Then I started thinking about other ways I could incorporate that dish into this year’s dish. I could make patties/ croquettes with them to make it smaller dishes, easier to serve when the whole family isn’t vegan. Or maybe use the loaf as a centre but make the dish a wellington? I’m still considering that. Then, when I was making my sausage rolls, I decided this year we would be making a vegan Christmas pastry recipe. Then that became two vegan Christmas pastry recipes because I’m indecisive and couldn’t decide how to make them.
There are a few reasons, the main one being that it’s easier to make for smaller servings. There are very few tables where every member of the family will be eating the veggie dish, so this works well if you’re only serving a few people (or one). It still makes enough that meat eaters can try it if they’re curious (if you are a meat eater with a veggie at the table, I encourage this, it makes them/ their food feel more welcome. Even if it’s just a couple of bites.). Or, if you are the only one, it will keep for a few days and you don’t need to cook a huge dish for yourself.
Adapting the recipe
The loaf I keep talking about serves 8, so I thought one quarter of the recipe should be enough to do what I wanted to achieve with this one. This recipe makes 6 or 4 mini patties, depending on the pastry option you choose. The ingredients list for both is the same, just a slight variation on what you do with the pastry at the end.
Pastry Options
I’m going to call option one a pastry pocket, and it looks like this. This one serves 6.
Option two is hereby called a pastry parcel, and it looks like this. This one serves 4.
Lentil & Squash Pastry Parcels Recipe
This recipe is vegan, dairy free and can be gluten free depending on breadcrumb choice. It does contain soy and nuts.
Lentil & Squash Pastry Parcels Recipe | Vegan Christmas Main Recipe
Ingredients
VEGETABLES
- 15 ml x 2 sunflower oil
- 30 g thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms
- 15 ml 1tbsp tamari
- 50 g sliced and peeled butternut squash thin rounds, not chunks
THE PATTIES
- 50 g raw nuts or seeds I used 100g walnuts, 50g pecans and 50g sunflower seeds
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp garlic pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 100 g cooked green lentils
- 20 g tomato paste plus 1 extra tbsp per pastry
- 20 g GF bread crumbs
- 1 sheet GF Jus Rol Pastry
Instructions
-
Cook lentils as per packet instructions, should be around 40 minutes. Once cooked, drain and set aside. Heat the oven to 200°c. Remove the pastry from the fridge while prepping the patties, it will be easier to work with if it’s room temperature when it comes to making the pastries.
-
Meanwhile, heat a large pan over a medium heat. Once hot, add half the oil and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Once softened, add the tamari and stir to coat. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until caramelised. Set aside.
-
Once mushrooms are cooked, add the rest of the oil and butternut squash. Try to arrange the squash evenly so it's touching the pan. Then cover and cook for 4 minutes. Flip, add a little water if necessary, and cover. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until slightly softened but not fully cooked.
-
Add nuts to the food processor and pulse a few times until a crumb like texture forms. Then add sweet potatoes, mushrooms, garlic pepper and thyme, and pulse to combine. Add lentils and pepper and pulse to loosely combine but be careful not to purée. There should still be small chunks of squash and a few loose lentils.
-
Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl and add tomato paste and stir until a loose dough forms. Then add breadcrumbs. The texture should be easy to pack but still have a few loose pieces.
-
Taste and adjust flavour as needed depending on your preferences.
-
Divide the mix into 6 equal sized servings and shape into small round burger patty shapes.
FOR THE POCKETS
-
Cut the pastry in half lengthways, then into three. Add 1 tbsp of tomato puree to the centre of each piece and place one patty directly on top of the tomato puree. Fold the edge of the pastry over the parry, as if you’re trying to cover it. The edges should cover the sides, but not the top. Then fold the bottom bits of the pastry as if you’re folding the edges of a present. Make sure to press down to keep the pastry in place. Lightly brush the edges with oil. Then place the pockets on a baking tray and cook for approximately 20 minutes, until the pastry is fully cooked and golden.
FOR THE PARCELS
-
For the parcels, cut the pastry in half lengthways, then down the centre of each piece. As with the pockets, add 1 tbsp of tomato puree to the centre of each and place a patty on top. Then fold over the corners of each to make the parcels. Squeeze the excess pastry together at the edges and down the sides. The patty should be fully covered in the pastry. Once again, brush the edges lightly with oil. Place on a baking tray and cook for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is cooked and golden.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
The nutritional information is per pastry pocket, parcels will be higher in calories as they require more pastry.
Which of the vegan Christmas pastry recipes would you opt for? The pastry pockets or parcels, or the original loaf? What do you think about how I’ve adapted the recipe this year? And, as this is my final Vegmas 2019 recipe, which one has been your favourite?
Until next time,
Sophie
I would love to try both. They look so delicious.
Omg please cook the Christmas family dinner for me LOL!
http://www.fashionradi.com
How delicious! the pastry pocket looks so good, what a nice idea to make individual servings!
Hope that you are having a wonderful weekend 🙂 I posted my Annual Handbag Gift Guide if you want to check it out 🙂
This looks so incredibly delicious and I love that it’s vegan too! I really want to try to serve my family more vegan options, even though they’re not vegan, I think it’s important for them to at least try it once!
Reading your blog when I’m hungry is so dangerous! These look so good, love how you have made them bite size xx
Violethollow.com
Delicious recipe I can’t wait to try it thank you!
Looks delicious.
It reminds me of the nut and mushroom roast I’m posting about on my blog on Tuesday.
If your recipe taste anything like that roast it’s heaven in a small package ❤️
I’m not vegan, but would love to try this recipe!!✨
These look so yummy! I haven’t really had many lentil based dishes before but these just look so good. I think these Would be perfect made into mini versions and kept as picky bits for Boxing Day! Xx
These look scrumptious!! I’ll have to give them a try next weekend! Thanks for sharing!
Omg those pastry parcels look so delicious!!
Omg Im not a huge fan of vegan food but these pastries look so good and your pictures are so bright and vibrant. (:
This sounds like a delicious recipe Sophie, really tasty! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I love savory pastries, and ate some very similar to this idea when I was in Tucson. They were flaky pockets filled with vegetables, and excellently good. Love that you have two adaptions of the recipe!
Both options look absolutely great! I love how you’ve adapted these, this recipe will be so handy for Christmas party season when finger food is all over the place. I’m not veggie but often do eat veggie food so it’s a great idea to encourage others to try them!
Soph – https://sophhearts.com x
Looks great and your commentary is lovely as well
This looks so yummy!
xx- Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com
Vegan AND Gluten free? Be still my beating heart! Looks delicious! x
Looks delicious and I love it’s vegan..
Never had something like this before, looks delicious :)) x
I really like the look of this Sophie 🙂 these pastries sound and look absolutely delicious. I might give them a go as soon as my bloating issues get better. Have a wonderful week.
These look good, and thanks for the notes in case we also need to modify the recipe!
Amazing. Can’t wait o try this!
Omg I’m literally drolling! I’ll be trying this amazing recipe soon for sure!
Great post! These look delicious and would love to try them for the holidays!!
This looks and sound so yummy. I am going to give this a try for Christmas. Love your site xoxo
I’m so thankful that there are bloggers like you who share Vegan recipes! Unfortunately I am not one for cooking pastries (I am terrible at baking), but it doesn’t stop me from saving this post for future reference. They both sound absolutely delicious and I’m going to check out your post from last year on the Lentil and Squash dish!
This looks SO GOOD. Definitely giving it a try! Also, good to know that you, as a vegan, feel more comfortable when people eat your main as well. I wasn’t sure whether asking to try the veggie option seems unfair because I can also eat the meat.
Jas xx
These sound delicious! And they look so adorable haha x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
I’ve been wanting to incorporate more vegan dishes into my daily diet, this will definitely be a recipe that I will try! It looks delicious!
These pastry parcels look so delicious and such a good alternative! I love Christmas party food especially when pastry is involved and parcels would be the perfect addition for my vegetarian / vegan loved ones.
Yum! These both look and sound delicious Sophie. Great idea for a side dish or to make up for a holiday party.
Thank you for these lovely recipes. It was clear to read and yummy to look at it!
This looks so delicious and wholesome, I love recipes with pastry, my favourite for sure!
Ayse x
Woow dear! I’ll have to try them!! Great job!
Have a wonderful day! xx
La ilusión de Nina – http://lailusiondenina.blogspot.com/
I’m not even vegan but these look DELICIOUS! I could definitely see myself switching to these one time xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
These have been on my mind since I saw them the other day! x
These look and sound amazing! You could do so much with these – even make tiny little ones as a snack! x
Oooof!! This sounds like the ultimate comfort food! I just wish I liked pastry! xD
Daisy xoxo |
I’m going to have to try some of your recipes for upcoming christmas parties x
Just by looking at the picture, I knew this was 100% British cuisine :’) I feel like I’ve never really tried anything authentically British, in terms of food, and I should attempt one of these recipes to get a feel for it!