Vegetable Loaf

 I was a vegetarian for over 15 years and I sometimes wonder why I ever crossed back to the other side. I made this vegetable "meat"loaf yesterday and when My Daughter tried it she said that she might never eat regular meatloaf again.  And that's saying something because my kids love my meatloaves.

I think this is also a wonderful Fall dish since it has lots of mushrooms in it.

 The Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1-½ cup brown rice, cooked in advance
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
•  salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 10 ounces crimini mushrooms,chopped
• 1 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped
• 8 ounces fresh spinach
• 3 ounces sun dried tomatoes, chopped
• 3/4 Cup shredded mozarella
• 1/3 Cup grated Parmesan 
• 5 eggs, whisked
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons vegetable broth 
• (optional... several dashes fish sauce, mushroom umami powder, seasoned salt)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400F.  Cook rice according to package instructions. Set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Stir in garlic and celery and season with salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

Add in mushrooms and tarragon and cook until mushrooms release their juices and the liquid evaporates, about 5 more minutes. Add in spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in sun dried tomatoes, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, mustard, and broth. Add in vegetable mixture and rice and stir to combine. Add cheeses and stir again.

Generously grease a loaf pan with olive oil. Pour in vegetable mixture and smooth to flat with a spatula. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until edges are nicely browned. I placed mine on a cookie sheet to catch overflow.

Let cool slightly, then run a knife along edges and flip onto platter.

This is a very flavorful recipe.

This is the umami seasoning I use from Trader Joe's.  I use this in everything, it awakens all of the other flavors especially when you use it with fish sauce.