Meatless Loaf

Ingredients

1. 2-14 ounce blocks firm or extra firm tofu, drained
2. 1 small onion, peeled and roughly chopped
3. 1 medium carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
4. 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
5. 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, cleaned and trimmed
6. 1/3 cup tomato paste
7. 1/4 cup Braggs liquid aminos (or tamari)
8. 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
9. 1 tsp smoked paprika
10. 1 tsp kosher salt
11. 1/4-1/2 tsp ground black pepper
12. 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
13. 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
14. 1/2 cup whole oats
15. 1 tbsp canola oil
16. about 1/3 cup ketchup

Instructions

1. 1. Place the tofu in a large mixing bowl. Use a potato masher or fork to smash the tofu.
2. 2. Place the onion, carrot, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Add to the tofu.
3. 3. Add the mushrooms to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add to the tofu and other vegetables.
4. 4. Add the tomato paste, Braggs, mustard seeds, paprika, salt, and pepper to the tofu and vegetables. Stir until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
5. 5. Stir in the panko, nutritional yeast, and oats. Press firmly in the bowl and set aside. Rest for 15-30 minutes.
6. 6. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat a 2-3 quart casserole dish with the oil. Form the tofu into a loaf in the casserole dish.
7. 7. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake another hour. Tent the loaf with aluminum foil (do not cover tightly) and make 2 more hours.
8. 8. Spread a generous layer of ketchup over the top of the loaf. Return to the oven, uncovered, and bake a final 15 minutes.
9. 9. Rest about 10 minutes, then slice and serve.

Notes

1. The loaf will spread and expand some, while baking. Resting the tofu mixture, before baking, helps. If you want a very even, loaf shape, prepare the mixture a day in advance. Refrigerate overnight. Rest at room temperature about an hour, prior to forming the loaf and baking according to steps 7 and 8.
2. Do not use cooking spray in place of the oil for the pan. The loaf will stick, without a generous coating of oil, whether using a metal, glass, or ceramic baking dish. There is no added fat in the loaf itself, so don't try to cut calories by skipping the oil.