Most vegan “meat loaf” recipes call for beans, grains, or processed soy foods and taste nothing like mom’s. This homey version features millet, an ideal meatloaf ingredient that takes on the flavor of whatever spices you cook with it. Because millet loses its binding power as it cools, be sure to put the mixture into the baking dish as soon as you finish incorporating the spices.

By Del Sroufe,

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
  • ¾ cup millet
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon snipped fresh sage
  • 1 tbsp snipped fresh thyme
  • 12 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons white miso paste
  • ¼ cup hot water
  • ¾ cup tomato sauce or ketchup
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast (optional)
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan bring broth to boiling. Stir in millet. Return to boiling; reduce heat to medium. Cover pan, and cook 20 to 25 minutes or until millet is tender.
  • Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. In a large saucepan cook onion over medium heat 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time as needed to prevent sticking. Add sage, thyme, garlic, pepper, and nutmeg; cook and stir 1 minute.
  • Dissolve the miso paste in ¼ cup hot water, and stir into onion mixture. Stir in ¼ cup of the tomato sauce and nutritional yeast, if using the yeast. Stir in cooked millet. Season with salt.
  • Immediately press mixture into a 9x5-inch nonstick loaf pan. Top with the remaining ½ cup tomato sauce. Bake 30 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Comments (32)

(5 from 10 votes)

Recipe Rating

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Karen Harness

If in a real hurry just use onion soup mix most are vegetarian just read the ingredients boil Millet in the broth it makes a very nice loaf with the other ingredients have fun

PattiAnn

After reading the comments, I made some additions to the recipe: I "reduced" on the stove, the whole 32 oz container of veg broth to make it more flavorful & added 1 vegan bouillon cube. I ended up with 2 1/4 cups broth but it was good. Because some comments said the loaf fell apart & needed a little fat, I added 1 egg replacer, 3 Tbl flaxmeal & 2 Tbl tahini. Instead of tomato sauce, 1/4 cup tomato paste kept the loaf firmer, & topping the loaf with ketchup gave it a little sweetness. Since I have an Italian palate, I changed out the spices for basil, oregano & paprika and added some onion & garlic powders. I guess I kind of rewrote the recipe, but I was pleased with the results. Thank You FOK

Paul H

Follow up... Since I couldn't find the millet grain but just the flour, I decided not to use either of those. Instead cooked 3/4 cup of brown rice in my Instant Pot and skipped the millet portion of the recipe. I also used a Pyrex shallow pan 5x5 and monitored the internal temp to an average 180F. My oven isn't the best for even heat. I changed the bake time to 15 minutes. Let it cool and placed in fridge for 2 hrs to let firm.It was even better the next day. Turned out to be a perfect loaf.

Paul H

I could not find millet grain but I did find millet flour. Do I need to adjust the millet quantity for the recipe? Thanks!

Courtney Davison

Hi Paul, Thanks for posting your follow-up comment about subbing in brown rice instead! We love hearing how modifications work out. In case anyone else comes across this original comment and is curious—we wouldn't recommend using millet flour in this recipe, as it will significantly change the texture and cook time of the loaf. Thank you, Courtney Editor, Forks Over Knives

Cynthia Prouty

Great Recipe with a few modifications! I used REGULAR vegetable Broth, and OMMITED the nutmeg. I used a Full 8oz Can of tomato sauce in the millet and decreased the water for the millet to cook. (I'm still experimenting with hw much water) I Added: 2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds to help the millet firm up 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire 1/2 teaspoon Dry (powdered) mustard 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning 2 Tablespoons tomato paste I spread the millet mixture in casserole dish and covered it with Chili Sauce. Most of these ingredients were ones I used to use in making meat loaf. I knew I got it right when someone asked for the recipe with my modifications.

Linda Wade

Your liquid to Milley ratio is off. Like a number of others commenting here, I found the millet did not firm up. You have 2-1/2 C. broth + 1/4 C. Miso water + 1/4 C. tomato sauce= 3 1/2 C liquid : 3/4 C. millet A ratio of 4.67 liquid : 1 millet is far too high for the loaf to set properly.

Mary McDonald

What should the liquid to millet ratio be?

Jan

Package says liquid to millet is 2 to 1

Rae

What do you all think about adding just eggs as a binding agent to this recipe. Think it work in making it a more sliceable meat-not loaf?

Judy

Mine didn't set correctly either, even after letting it sit more than 15 minutes and using mini muffins and a small loaf pan. Initially I reduced the time then put them both back in the oven for the full 30 minutes, but had to cook longer, and it still fell apart after sitting a while. It tastes good; but not something I would serve to guests.

Darlene Cloud

Loved this loaf but need to know if the leftovers can be frozen.

Mayla

2 cuillères à soupe de pâte miso blanche 3/4 tasse de sauce tomate ou de ketchup 1/4 tasse de levure nutritionnelle (facultatif) Sel, au goût !!!! Je rêve quelle h0rrévr ls né d0ivént jamais être cuits

Joan Miller

Can this be frozen? How long can it be held in the refrigerator?

Vincent Savino

How to measure the 12 cloves of minced garlic using jarred, already minced garlic? Can a glass loaf pan be used instead of a nonstick? Thanks

Jenna

My jar says on the side that 1/2 tsp is equivalent to one clove.

Stacey C.

I love this recipe! What can I substitute for the millet? My grocery doesn't always have it. Can I use quinoa? Thanks!

Cris

I loved the flavor, but it did not firm up enough. Slices did not hold. I am going to try again adding either flax egg or oats or maybe both. I would love to hear any suggestions. I did not have fresh herb so I used 1 teaspoon of dried sage and thyme. Again, I though it had a lot of flavor.

Carole

I also didn't have sage, so I used oregano. Wasn't too sure about that substitution, but it was great. Always used oregano now.

Judy

How did it work with the flax egg? Something I should have tried and/or rolled oats.

Carole

I didn't have white miso, so I used red. Very good.

Elizabeth

So, I modified the recipe a bit. I had decided to make the baked beans recipe also from Forks Over Knives. It was a day of cooking with what I already had in the house. I had millet and I had beans. Once I saw the recipe for the beans, I decided to use the sauce in the millet loaf as well. I did not use the miso or sage. I added some basil. It turned out wonderfully. And, once cooled, was easy to cut in slices.

Patia

Doesn't stay firm, but definitely tasty. Had it over some greens and hummus. Definitely will make this again.

Sharme

This was absolutely delicious. Made a yummy sandwich the next day.

gloria cappetto

This one was not my favorite cup of tea (so to speak). After it was cooked I tried numerous ways to do something with it. My hubby put barbecue sauce on and it was acceptable, but still lacked something. To me the flavor was not there or any flavor but a small taste of sage and thyme. Could have been plain and for me would taste the same.

Jann

In my experience what is missing is fat. I have another Millet loaf recipe that has you take four cups of canned tomatoes and blend them with two tablespoons of raw sunflower seeds. Doesn't sound like much, but this bit of naturally occurring fat makes a difference (used for cooking the Millet).

Hazel Cole

My husband and I very much enjoy this meatless loaf. I do, however, need to know the nutrients, i.e., calories, and also the serving size. Thank you for healthy and delicious recipes.

Hazel Cole

I really need the nutritional information for this dish, i.e, calories. Also, how much is one serving? Thank you so much for all you do to help us be healthy and happy with delicious recipes. Hazel

Heather@healthnutavenue

I have to say, I've tried several of the vegan "meat loaf" recipes, and this one is by far my family's favorite!! We made it for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit!

Gene

Please could you suggest what to serve with this to make a complete meal. thanks

Heather@healthnutavenue

We made buffalo cauliflower, and broccoli soup to go with ours. It was epic!!

Carole

Veggie of choice, salad, but best of all mashed potatoes with red miso gravy.

About the Author

Headshot of Def Sroufe

About the Author

Del Sroufe

Chef Del Sroufe is co-owner and executive chef of Wellness Forum Foods, a whole-food, plant-based meal delivery and catering service in Columbus, Ohio. He is the author of Forks Over Knives - The Cookbook and Better Than Vegan. Del teaches cooking classes and helps people transition to a healthy plant-based diet.
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