Though we love experimenting in the kitchen and coming up with new, creative recipes, we think the holidays is a time to bust out your tried and true standbys. After all, you’re probably facing some skeptics, and you don’t want anyone to think that all vegans eat for xmas are side dishes! Of course, this dish is elegant and can be served any time of year, so whenever you feel like creating something special, give this recipe a shot.
Mushroom filling ingredients
1 tablespoon non-dairy butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups crimini mushrooms, finely chopped
2 large shallots, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme, stemmed and finely chopped
2 tablespoons vegan red wine (Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
1⁄4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
Seitan filling ingredients
2 packages “chicken-style” seitan or 3 cups homemade seitan
4 sprigs fresh thyme, stemmed and finely chopped
2 tablespoons mustard, stone ground or German
2 tablespoons vegan red wine (Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
3⁄4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus 1⁄4 cup flour for rolling
Grated zest of 1⁄2 lemon
1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt
1⁄4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 package vegan frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
Creamy spinach sauce ingredients
3 cups baby spinach, packed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
1⁄4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1⁄4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon soy milk creamer
Yields two small or one large Wellington. Serves six to eight.
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
For the mushroom filling: In a large saute pan, heat butter and olive oil. Add mushrooms, shallots and garlic. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add thyme, wine, sea salt, black pepper and flour, and cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until all the liquid has evaporated. Set aside to cool.
For the seitan filling: In a large food processor, combine seitan, thyme, mustard, wine, maple syrup, flour, lemon zest, paprika, sea salt and black pepper. Pulse until uniform, about 20 times, and set aside.
On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry out to about 1/2-inch thickness. To make one large Wellington, overlap two sheets by about 1 inch and press them together at seam. Place mushroom filling in center of pastry and spread out, leaving a 1- to 2-inch border on all sides.
Top mushrooms with seitan filling and fold puff pastry border over to form a log shape, completely sealing filling.
If making two small Wellingtons, divide seitan and mushroom filling in half before forming each log shape, and proceed as directed above.
To bake, place one large or two small Wellingtons seam side down on a greased baking sheet with rims. Make a couple of slits in top of pastry with a small knife.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until pastry is golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
For the spinach sauce: Sauté spinach in a large saute pan over low heat with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, sea salt and black pepper, until wilted. In a blender, combine with soy milk creamer, and purée until smooth.
Serve sliced Wellington warm with spinach sauce.
Seitan Wellington with a Creamy Spinach Sauce by Spork Foods
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