For the vegetarians amongst you this is the perfect dish to embrace the spirit of a Christmas feast. Turkey free Christmas Roast is also gluten free and goes well with the other healthy meal trimmings such as potatoes and polyphenol rich Brussel sprouts and carotenoid rich carrots. The chickpeas are an excellent source of plant proteins and essential minerals such as manganese and zinc great for healthy bones and healthy nails.

Here is what you need…

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 red onion
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 can of chickpeas
  • 1 cup of cooked Arborio rice
  • 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup of basil
  • Tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup veg stock

How to cook Turkey Free Christmas Roast

Preheat the oven to 200 °C.

Brush a small square pan with olive oil.

In the meantime, chop the onion, heat a splash of olive oil over medium heat in a pan, add the onion and caramelise. Crush the garlic, stir it in with the onions and let cook for a 1 minute more until fragrant.

Take a large mixing bowl, strain the chickpeas and crush them in the bowl with a fork. Add the cooked rice, tomato, breadcrumbs, vegetable stock, salt and basil. Mix the mixture with a large spoon until the mixture holds together. Add the caramelised onion and garlic to the mixture and mix together well. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan and pack it down very firmly using the back of a large spoon. It is important to pack it firmly so that it holds together while baking.

Put in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Remove from oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.