The Legendary Chickpea Vegan Meatloaf

This hearty vegan meatloaf is made from a base of seasoned chickpeas, baked up to perfection and topped with a flavorful maple glaze. It’s not quite a classic meatloaf. It’s better.

It’s kind of funny that I had trouble in this department with meatloaf. I mean, who doesn’t know what meatloaf tastes like?

I really don’t. It’s been a while and I never liked meatloaf when I was a kid. In fact, I didn’t think other people liked meatloaf. I just thought it was one of those items we all had traumatic school cafeteria memories of. Apparently I was wrong, because all I’ve been hearing lately is meatloaf praise.

You’ll Need:

For the Chickpea Meatloaf

• 2-14 oz. cans or 3 1/3 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1/2 cup unflavored soy or almond milk
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. ground flax seeds
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 3 tbsp. vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce or tamari
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 tsp. liquid smoke
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper

For the Maple Glaze

• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. maple syrup
• 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tsp. paprika

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly oil a 9 inch loaf pan and arrange a strip of parchment paper width-wise along the center, with just a bit hanging over the sides.
2. Working in batches if needed, place all meatloaf ingredients into food processor bowl and pulse until chickpeas are broken up and ingredients are well mixed, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Do not overblend. If working in batches, transfer each batch to a large mixing bowl when complete and then mix by hand.
3. Press mixture into prepared loaf pan and bake 30 minutes.
4. While meatloaf bakes, stir glaze ingredients together in a small bowl.
5. Remove loaf from oven after 30 minutes and spoon glaze overtop of loaf. Bake another 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool at least 10 minutes before cutting.

NOTES:

• The longer this sits, the firmer it gets. If it initially feels a bit soft for your liking, let it sit a for a few minutes or prep it a day in advance and reheat the day of serving.