Dreena Burton’s savory vegan holiday torte makes a beautiful and delicious centerpiece for your next Thanksgiving feast. Flecked with cranberries, herbs, and pumpkin seeds, it’s a souped-up vegan loaf reimagined in torte form that’s packed full of everything you love about holiday stuffing—no turkey required. Brown rice, oats, and chickpeas form the hearty base, which includes mouthwatering sautéed onions, white wine, and poultry seasonings. Chopped apples add bursts of juicy sweetness to each bite and celebrate the season’s best produce. Brushing the torte with a layer of vegan Worcestershire sauce infuses savory flavor into every nook and cranny as it bakes in the oven. Serve each slice with a side of cranberry relish or vegan gravy, and watch how quickly your loved ones gobble it up!

For more vegan Thanksgiving mains, check out these tasty ideas:

By Dreena Burton,

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups ½-inch diced apples
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1½ cups chopped onions
  • ¼ cup dry white wine or water
  • 2 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 15-oz. cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained (3 cups)
  • 3 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons for topping
  • 1 tablespoon tahini
  • 2½ cups cooked brown rice
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • ¾ cup toasted pumpkin seeds, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons dried cranberries or sliced fresh cranberries, for topping (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small bowl toss apples with lemon juice.
  • In a large skillet cook onions, wine, garlic, poultry seasoning, ¼ teaspoon of the salt, and a few grinds of pepper over medium 10 minutes or until onions soften and turn golden, stirring occasionally and adding water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking and to loosen any browned bits in bottom of skillet.
  • Transfer onion mixture to a food processor. Add chickpeas, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, the tahini, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Process until mixture is fairly smooth. Add rice, oats, and ¾ cup pumpkin seeds; pulse to combine. Scrape sides of food processor; process just until mixture reaches a fairly uniform consistency but still has some texture. (Don’t overprocess or the rice will become sticky.) Remove blade from food processor. Stir in apples.
  • Transfer mixture to a 9- or 10-inch nonstick springform pan. Use a spatula to smooth out the mixture, lightly pressing to evenly distribute. Spread the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce over surface of mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds and the cranberries (if using).
  • Bake 30 minutes or until torte is slightly firm and top is lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes. Release pan’s outer ring. Cut torte into wedges.

Comments (18)

(5 from 2 votes)

Recipe Rating

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Shirley

Making it for the holidays again- goes perfect with the 5 min cranberry compote

Barb Pyner

Can this be made a couple of days ahead and reheated?

Phillip

What do we do with the apple?

Shelley

See step three ;)

Christina

Thank you, this looks amazing! Do you have any tips for making it ahead of time?

Beatrice

One and a half cup of chopped onions

Jamila

Hello! I have no idea what the questions are referring to, because it's in the ingredients list and in the instructions when to use the onions and the apples. Please re-read the recipe and have a blessed day!

Arrhiannon

I am wondering what to do with the 1 1/2 cups of diced apples?

Jerri-Beth

Step 3, last sentence says to stir in apples.

Doug

I think it would be helpful if step 3 was split into 3 steps. It’s easy to overlook a step when you’re in cooking mode. I’m pretty sure they do this to say look you can do this in 3-4 easy steps, but really it’s like 7-8 steps.

Nancy

This is delicious.

Carole

I looked on her website and it says 1-1/2 cups diced onion

Carole

How many onions?

Barb

The amount and kind of onions is not listed in the ingredients list?

Ellen Sushak

There is something WRONG with this recipe!! There are NO onions listed in the ingredients, but both the descriptive lead-in and the directions mention onions. How many diced onions should I use to make this recipe?? I want to make it.

Mary Anne Elliott

Onions are not on the ingredient list. What is the amount?

Justina

Onions are in the directions but not in the ingredient list. How many onions please? This looks really yummy!

Cindy

The onions are in the ingredients list. (But maybe they fixed it since you wrote your review.)

About the Author

Headshot of Dreena Burton

About the Author

Dreena Burton

Dreena Burton has written six cookbooks charting her journey as a plant-powered cook and at-home mother of three. Always passionate about creating nutritious recipes, she is an advocate of using the “vegan basics” (beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) to create dishes that are healthy but also very satisfying and delicious! For more on her plant-powered recipes and newest cookbook, Dreena’s Kind Kitchen: 100+ Whole-Foods Vegan Recipes to Enjoy Every Day, visit dreenaburton.com, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
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