Mushroom and aubergine balls with epic sprouts and celeriac smashed with rosemary

A perfect main for a Christmas dinner with a difference.

Serves 2

Ingredients

Mushroom and aubergine balls 

• One red onion finely chopped
• 250g chestnut mushrooms cut into quarters
• 250g cubed aubergine
• 1 cup (185g) of cooked white quinoa
• 8 chopped fresh sage leaves
• 50g walnuts
• 1 tsp of salt

Epic sprouts

• 250g spouts
• 50g almonds
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1-2 finely grated garlic

Gravy

• 1 red onion finely chopped
• 1 celery stick finely chopped
• 1-2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
• ½ cup (125ml) of red wine
• ¼ cup (35g) of red lentils
• 1 tbsp of stock powder

Celeriac smash

•  ½ large or one whole small celeriac peeled and cut into cubes
• 1-2 garlic cloves finely chopped
• Leaves from two sprigs of rosemary
• ½ tsp of salt

Method

For the mushroom and aubergine balls

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Fry the onion, mushrooms and aubergines in little oil in a pan until cooked through.
3. Blend the onion, mushroom and aubergine mix together with the chopped sage leaves, walnuts and salt.
4. Put the quinoa in a bowl and mix in the mushroom aubergine mixture.
5. Prepare a baking tray by covering with lightly oiled baking paper.
6. Form into balls with your hands and place on tray.
7. Bake for 30-40 minutes until they are firm on the outside.

For the epic sprouts

1. Cut the sprouts in half and remove the outer leaves.
2. Cook in a pan with some olive oil.
3. Add the almonds and cook for a couple of minutes.
4. Add the lemon juice, garlic and a pinch of salt.
5. Serve when the sprouts are tender.

For the gravy

1. Cook the onion and celery in a pan with a little oil. If you prefer bits of onion in your gravy, you can reserve some onion and celery pieces to add after stage 6.
2. Part way through, add the garlic and cook until soft.
3. Add the red wine and reduce by half over a medium heat.
4. Add the lentils together with one and a half cups of water and the stock.
5. Simmer until the lentils are soft.
6. Blend until smooth, adding water if needed to achieve your preferred consistency.

For the celeriac smash

1. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan.
2. Fry the chunks of celeriac for a few minutes.
3. Add the rosemary, garlic and salt.
4. Add a cup of water and simmer for 20 minutes or until the celeriac is soft.
5. Smash together to your preferred consistency.