Ingredients
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9 slices commercial whole wheat bread (about 8 ounces)
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2 cups walnuts (about 8 ounces)
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3 large eggs
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1 stalk celery, minced
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1 bunch parsley, stems discarded and leaves chopped
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2/3 cup canned crushed tomatoes or 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained very well
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1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
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1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
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1 teaspoon salt
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generous seasoning fresh ground black pepper
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1/4 cup unsalted butter
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2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms (8 ounces)
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1/4 cup unbleached flour
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2 1/2 cups vegetable stock, store-bought or homemade
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1/4 cup dry red wine
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2 tablespoons tamari soy sauce
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3 medium onions, diced
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1 small green bell pepper, diced
Instructions
- Toast the bread slices either in the toaster or on a baking sheet placed under the broiler.
- Let cool.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Generously butter a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, then line the bottom with waxed paper and butter the paper.
- Tear up the toasted bread slices and make crumbs out of them in a food processor.
- Place in a large bowl.
- Process the walnuts until finely ground and mix into the bread crumbs.
- Combine the eggs and onions in the processor and process until fine but not liquefied.
- Stir into the bread crumbs.
- Place the green pepper, celery, parsley, tomatoes, and oil in the processor and grind until fine but still with some texture.
- Stir into the loaf mixture along with the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Mix this all very well until evenly moistened.
- (The mixture may be prepared to this point and refrigerated up to 8 hours in advance.) Scrape it into the prepared loaf pan and smooth over the top.
- Cover the loaf with foil.
- Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center of the loaf comes out dry.
- Let sit 5 minutes, then run a knife all along the sides of the loaf to help loosen it.
- Unmold the loaf onto a platter and remove the waxed paper.
- Let the loaf cool 20 minutes or so before slicing it.
- It's best to serve the loaf warm and the gravy hot.
- Mushroom gravy: Melt the butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the mushrooms and saute until brown, about 7 minutes.
- Stir in the flour; it will become very pasty.
- Cook this roux for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- It will stick to the bottom of the pan a little bit; that's okay.
- Stir in the stock, wine, soy sauce, and pepper, and bring to a boil.
- Cook the sauce at a bubbling simmer for 5 minutes, stirring almost constantly and scraping any crusty bits that stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Serve in a pretty gravyboat.