Beet Wellington: A Stunning Plant-Based Holiday Centerpiece
Posted by Brittani Diamond onImpress your guests this holiday season with a flavorful and wholesome Beet Wellington! This show-stopping dish combines savory mushroom stock, hearty beet loaf, and tender glazed vegetables, all wrapped in a golden, flaky crust. It’s the perfect plant-based option to elevate your holiday table.
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Health Benefits
This recipe is packed with nutrient-dense ingredients. Here are three standout components and their science-backed benefits:
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Beets:
- Supports Heart Health: Beets are rich in nitrates, which help improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: Betalains in beets reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage.
- Aids Detoxification: Beets boost liver function, assisting the body in detoxifying.
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Mushrooms:
- Immune-Boosting: Mushrooms contain beta-glucans that enhance immune function.
- Rich in Antioxidants: Their antioxidants combat free radicals, reducing inflammation.
- Great for Bone Health: Mushrooms are a natural plant-based source of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
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Flaxseed:
- Promotes Heart Health: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed supports cardiovascular function.
- Improves Digestion: Soluble fiber in flaxseed nourishes gut bacteria and supports regularity.
- Packed with Lignans: These plant compounds act as antioxidants, reducing the risk of certain cancers.
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Beet Wellington Recipe
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 1.5 hours
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Ingredients
For Mushroom Stock and Gravy:
- 3 cups mushroom stock
- 3-4 cremini mushrooms (or your favorite kind), chopped
- ½ stalk celery, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped (0.5 cup)
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 bushel rosemary (whole)
- 1 bushel lemon thyme (whole)
- Coarse ground black pepper (to taste)
- 3 Tbsp garlic paste
- 0.5 -1.0 can Sabatino black truffles, drained (to taste)
For Beet Loaf:
- 1 beet, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 stalk celery, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
- ½ onion, chopped
- 5-6 mushrooms, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1½ cups seitan, roughly chopped
- 1 cup cooked kale
- 1 cup tofu, chopped (firm or silken, your preference)
- 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
- 2 Tbsp oat flour
- ¾ cup whole wheat bread crumbs
- 1 Tbsp garlic paste
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (plant-based option- Wizard brand)
- Black pepper (to taste)
For Duxelles:
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 1 beet, peeled and diced
- 5 mushrooms, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 bushel lemon thyme, finely chopped
- 1 bushel rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp mushroom stock
- 1 Tbsp oat flour
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
For Glazed Vegetables:
- 1 turnip, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 celery root, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1½ Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 bushel lemon thyme (whole)
- 1 bushel rosemary (whole)
- ¼ cup water
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
For Assembly:
- Store-bought or premade dough, rolled out to ¼ inch thickness
- Flour (for rolling dough)
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Instructions
1. Prepare the Mushroom Stock and Gravy
- In a pot, combine mushroom stock, cremini mushrooms, celery, carrot, garlic, rosemary, and lemon thyme.
- Season with black pepper and simmer over medium-low heat until reduced about 1 hour.
- After beet loaf is cooked, strain the vegetables and blend the stock with garlic paste and black truffles until smooth. Set aside for serving.
2. Make the Beet Loaf
- Blend peeled and chopped beet, celery, carrot, onion, mushrooms, and garlic in a food processor into a rough paste.
- Separately blend seitan, kale, and tofu, then combine with the beet mixture.
- Mix in flaxseed, oat flour, bread crumbs, garlic paste, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper until a burger-like consistency forms.
- Pack into a loaf pan, cover with foil, and bake at 400°F for 1 hour. Let rest for 15 minutes.
3. Prepare the Duxelles
- Food process and then sauté onion, beet, mushrooms, and garlic with chopped lemon thyme, rosemary, and 2 tablespoons of mushroom stock until it is reduced to a paste.
- After vegetables are softened and cooked through, take off heat and stir in oat flour and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
4. Assemble the Beet Wellington
- Roll out dough on a floured surface to ¼ inch thickness.
- Spread the duxelles on top of the beet loaf, then place the loaf face down onto the dough.
- Wrap the dough around the loaf, trim excess, and seal the edges.
- Bake at 400°F for 25-35 minutes until golden brown.
5. Prepare the Glazed Vegetables
- Combine chopped turnip, celery root, carrot, and celery with maple syrup, whole rosemary, whole lemon thyme, water, salt, and pepper in a pot.
- Simmer with the lid on until tender.
6. Serve
- Slice the Beet Wellington into ½-inch thick pieces. Plate with glazed vegetables and ladle truffle gravy over the top.
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A Holiday Centerpiece Worth the Effort
The Beet Wellington is a dish that combines flavor, nutrition, and visual appeal into one unforgettable centerpiece. With its savory mushroom stock, vibrant beet loaf, and rich truffle gravy, it’s the ultimate holiday treat.
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Share Your Creations!
We’d love to see your Beet Wellington creations! Tag us on Instagram @SweetPeaPlantBased to showcase your culinary masterpiece and inspire others to explore the beauty of plant-based cooking.