Nutritious Nuggets
• Chickpeas, AKA garbanzo beans, are not only high in fiber and protein but are also a rich source of minerals and antioxidants.
• Mushrooms, a type of fungi, are nutritious and can contribute to longer life spans. Unlike plants, mushrooms do not require sunlight to grow.
Meatless Meatloaf
1 cup cooked garbanzo beans, drained
5-6 large shiitake mushrooms, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
4-5 large green onions, chopped
1 large rib celery, chopped
½ large red pepper, chopped
¼-½ cup fresh herbs (i.e. basil and oregano)
1 tablespoon brewer’s yeast
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon raw agave nectar
¼-½ teaspoon each: sea salt, pepper, thyme, sage, paprika, dried mustard
¼ cup ground flax seeds
½ cup oats
½ cup quinoa flakes
Sauce
1 small jar tomato paste
½ teaspoon sea salt
pinch clove
1 tablespoon each: apple cider vinegar; mustard; soy sauce or no soy, soy sauce; raw agave nectar; lime juice
Blend sauce ingredients together until smooth.
For the meatless meatloaf
Combine first 7 ingredients in a food processor, using the S-blade. Blend until consistency resembles ground beef. Add remainder ingredients and thoroughly incorporate. Fold ingredients into a greased loaf pan and allow to set in refrigerator for a few hours. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Spoon half of the sauce on top and bake for another 15 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes, slice and serve. Reserve the rest of the sauce for individual servings. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy!