• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Vegan Punks
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About us
  • Work with us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About us
  • Work with us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Resources
    • About us
    • Work with us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Roast Dinner

    Gooey Cheesy Layered Cashew Nut Roast

    Published: Nov 23, 2020 by Jess & Dan · Modified: Dec 16, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links

    165 shares
    • 1
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    A Pinterest image titled Cheesy Vegan Cashew Nut Roast. The photo in the centre is a top-down shot of a golden brown nut roast with a sprig of thyme laying on top.
    A Pinterest image titled Cheesy Cashew Nut Roast. The photo shows three slices of nut roast laying on a plate with a drizzle of gravy covering them. The slices have a cheesy spinach layer running through the middle. The plate also has roast potatoes and broccoli on it.

    This cashew nut roast is nothing like the nut roasts you get as the veggie option in most pubs. It’s made with cashews which gives it an amazing flavour, and the gooey cheese layer is out of this world!

    Nut roasts are a veggie staple because they are filling and jam packed with protein. This is why we took it upon ourselves to create one that was jam packed with flavour, too. This one is so tasty we’ve even had it for Christmas dinner! It also works really well as part of a roast dinner at any time of the year.

    A photo with two plates in it. The plate at the front has nut roast, roast potatoes and broccoli on it. There is a drizzle of gravy over the nut roast. In the top left corner is the whole cashew nut roast with a slice cut off and laying face up. The second plate in the right of the photo has a grilled cauliflower steak on it as well as some broccoli.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Cashew Nut Roast
    • What To Serve With Nut Roast
    • Vegan Christmas Nut Loaf
    • What Vegan Cheese Is Best For This Recipe?
    • FAQs
    • Equipment
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    A promotional image for A Vegan Punks Christmas recipe e-book. It features mock-ups of the book on a laptop, iPad and phone.

    Are you looking for the perfect vegan Christmas recipes? Then look no further! Our Christmas E-book is here and it contains all the recipes you need for a delicious festive feast. Find out more.

    Ingredients

    Unsurprisingly, cashews are the main ingredient in this cashew nut roast. It’s the combination of cashews and a really great vegan cheese that make this dish the parcel of deliciousness that it is! You will need:

    • Cashews. If you can, try and find fair trade cashews. There are a lot of cashew farmers who really aren’t treated very well. Buying fair trade ensures that you are supporting the companies who buy from farmers who are working safely, and paying their workers a fair wage.
    • Almonds. These compliment the cashews really well, and provide an extra depth of flavour. Again, try and find fairtrade if possible. It is possible to get UK grown almonds, although we have yet to see them in a supermarket.
    • Fresh breadcrumbs. Just whizz up or grate some bread to get these - it’s a great way to use up the dried up end pieces of a loaf of bread. We like to use wholemeal as it’s more nutritious, and has a richer flavour.
    • Olive oil. 
    • Veg stock. Most veg stock cubes are vegan, but it’s worth having a read through the ingredients to check for sneaky milk powder (why??)
    • Spinach. 
    • Cheddar style vegan cheese. We’ll talk more below about which brands we like.
    • Fresh rosemary.
    A top down photo of the cashew nut roast, sitting on top of a chopping board, which is on top of a stone coloured tea towel. There are a few pots on show round the board, one has rosemary in, another has a chutney or sauce in it. The cashew roast is a golden brown colour and is in a loaf shape.

    How To Make Cashew Nut Roast

    If you’re like us you’ll start by eating some of the cashews… quality assurance is important! Then you’ll want to whack your oven on to pre-heat to gas mark 5/190°C. 

    • Put the olive oil in a pan to heat up. Once it’s warm, add the onions and saute them until they are soft. Warming the oil is important as it means your onions will cook properly.
    • Next take your breadcrumbs, rosemary, nuts and seasoning and chuck them in a blender. 
    • Blitz until the ingredients are roughly chopped. You want to maintain some texture, so don’t blitz for too long.
    • Add the stock and the onions to the blender and then blitz again.
    • The mixture shouldn’t be too wet, but you should find that it sticks together easily if you press it between your fingers. Obviously turn the blender off before you try this!
    • Get your spinach and put it in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat to wilt. We don’t use any oil or water for this. Just pop your spinach in the pan with the lid on, and stir every 30 seconds. You can do this in batches if your pan isn’t quite big enough for all of the spinach.
    • If the spinach releases any liquid then allow it to evaporate, or drain it off. We haven’t needed to do this every time we made the nut roast though.
    • Line a loaf tin with parchment paper, and then put in half the nut mixture.
    • Grate the cheese, and then layer it on top of the mixture along with the spinach.
    • Pour the rest of the nut mixture on top.
    • Pop your cashew nut roast in the oven to bake for 40 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when it’s golden brown, by this point the middle should be lovely and gooey too.
    • Serve up with veggies and lots of gravy, and enjoy!

    Check out the recipe card at the end of this article for detailed measurements and timings.

    What To Serve With Nut Roast

    We really like this cashew nut roast as part of a yummy roast dinner. We’ve made it our mission to create lots of different dishes that work really well as part of a roast, and these are some of our favourites.

    Cauliflower Cheese

    Roasted cauliflower is delicious anyway. Smother it in a creamy, cheesy sauce and you’ve got something really special. Ever since we cracked the recipe, we’ve had vegan cauliflower cheese with pretty much every roast we’ve made. It also works really well in a bun with a vegan burger if you’re looking to eat something a little bit filthy.

    Roast Potatoes

    Potatoes really are the greatest aren’t they? Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, fry ‘em - however you cook them they are absolutely gorgeous, and filling too! You only need three ingredients to make roast potatoes that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and so tasty that you’ll struggle not to eat a whole plateful.

    Yorkshire Puddings

    It was a happy day in the Vegan Punks household when we finally cracked our recipe for vegan Yorkshire puddings! It was quite a tricky one to perfect, as we wanted to make sure they were just like the ones we had loved so much growing up. We did it though, and now we can eat them whenever we like (which is a lot).

    Maple Roasted Carrots And Parsnips

    We really like this simple maple roasted carrots and parsnips recipe. It’s easy to make, and adds a lovely splash of colour and hint of sweetness to your roast. 

    If you’re looking for more Vegan Christmas Dinner Inspiration, check out our guide 79 Ultimate Christmas Dishes. It’s full of loads of ideas to help you to cater for even the fussiest of eaters!

    A cashew nut roast sat on some parchment paper, with two slices cut into it. The closest slice is laying on its side which shows a layer of spinach and cheese running through the middle.

    Vegan Christmas Nut Loaf

    We’ve served this cashew nut roast up for Christmas Dinner before, and everybody loved it! It’s perfect for Christmas because it goes really well with that strange concoction that only comes out at Christmas time, cranberry sauce. It’s also yummy smothered in gravy, and served up with roasties… we’re getting hungry now!

    Another thing that we love about it is the fact that you can freeze it in advance. This gives you one less thing to worry about on Christmas morning when you’re navigating family time.

    What Vegan Cheese Is Best For This Recipe?

    Our favourite vegan cheese, which you will see us recommending for pretty much any cheese related recipe, is Koko cheddar style. We like it because it melts really well and it has a lovely mellow flavour. Some of the vegan cheeses out there are a little too cheesy to cook with sometimes.

    Koko isn’t as widely available as some other brands, so if you can’t find it then give Violife cheddar a try. It’s also a really solid option, and tastes great in a sandwich.

    For a slightly smoky flavour you can try Applewood smoked. Everyone went nuts when this was released, and it’s easy to see why!

    Finally, another great option is Sheese (sometimes known by the manufacturer name, Bute Island). This is the cheese you’ll find on a lot of vegan pizzas. Papa John’s uses it for example. It’s become a go to for a lot of people because it melts really well, and has a great taste.

    Which cheese to use is quite a personal choice. If you have a favourite brand that we haven’t listed here then feel free to give it a go, and let us know how you get on!

    A photo with a plate filled with food at the forefront of it. The plate has slices of cashew nut roast, roast potatoes and broccoli on it. In the background is a jug of gravy, a small bowl of roast potatoes and to the side is a second plate which has a roasted cauliflower steak on, as well as the nut roast and broccoli.

    FAQs

    Can you freeze nut roast?

    Absolutely, it’s one of our favourite things about this recipe! You can cook it directly from frozen, it will take around 40 minutes at gas mark 5/180°C.

    Can I use different nuts?

    Definitely! We love cashews and almonds in this recipe, but feel free to choose the nuts that you like the best (or that you happen to have lying around). Walnuts would definitely be another solid choice.

    Can this be made gluten free?

    Yes! Just switch out the breadcrumbs for a gluten free version. It’s also worth ensuring that your stock is gluten free as some brands might stick a bit of wheat in there. 

    There’s also a possibility that the stock has been processed in a factory where gluten is also processed. This cross contamination would make your stock unsuitable for celiacs, but this would be noted on the packaging.

    Equipment

    There are a few items that will help you to get the most out of this recipe. We’ve recommended them because they make the cooking process easier, and they help you to get the best results. Plus they are things that we find ourselves using on an almost daily basis, so you’ll find them to be a worthwhile investment!

    Blender

    Having a good blender will make this recipe much easier, as chopping up loads of nuts by hand isn’t a lot of fun! It’s worth getting a blender anyway, we use ours all the time for making smoothies and sauces.

    Loaf Tin

    The loaf tin is an important part of this recipe because it gives your cashew nut roast it’s shape. We’d recommend getting one that’s non-stick so that any rogue mixture doesn’t get stuck to the bottom. We got a lot of use out of our loaf tin during lockdown making banana bread.

    Pro tip: don’t use a silicon tray. We’ve made this mistake before. It allows the roast to spread out as it has a lot of give. This isn’t ideal and will make it harder for the loaf to stay intact!

    Non Stick Pan With A Lid

    Finally, having a large non stick pan with a lid makes it much easier to wilt the spinach for this recipe. We use ours pretty much daily for simmering sauces and cooking veggies.

    If you like this recipe, don’t forget to bookmark it, save it on Pinterest and let us know if you like it in the comments!

    📖 Recipe

    Three slices of cashew nut roast laying next to each other with a slither of gravy running across them. There's a spinach and cheese layer running through the middle.

    Gooey Cheesy Layered Cashew Nut Roast

    Forget all those bland nut roasts that were the only veggie option in the pub. Say hello to our cashew nut roast with a gooey, cheesy middle.
    4.89 from 9 votes
    Save Saved! Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 347kcal
    Author: Jess & Dan

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 1 onion – diced
    • 220 g cashews or mixed nuts – a 50/50 mix of cashews & almonds is also great.
    • 100 g breadcrumbs
    • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
    • 150 ml vegetable stock
    • 200 g spinach
    • 75 g vegan cheese
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat your oven to 190c / gas mark 5.
    • Add the oil to a saucepan and heat up over a medium heat.
      1 tablespoon olive oil
    • Sautée the onion until soft.
      1 onion
    • Pop the nuts, breadcrumbs, rosemary and a pinch of salt & pepper into a blender and blitz until combined.
      220 g cashews, 100 g breadcrumbs
    • Add the stock and onions, then blend again.
      1 onion, 150 ml vegetable stock, 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
    • Put the pan back on to a medium heat and add the spinach – add handful by handful if you struggle to fit it all in the pan at once. Stir until all the spinach has wilted down, put the lid on for 30 seconds at a time to help it wilt, then stir. Drain off any liquid.
      200 g spinach
    • Serve half the nut mix into a 1 lb loaf tin lined with greaseproof paper, and smooth it out with a spoon so it's level.
    • Spoon on the wilted spinach and spread it until it's evenly coating the nut mix.
    • Add the vegan cheese on top of the spinach, again, creating an even layer.
      75 g vegan cheese
    • Serve the other half of the nut mix into the tin and smooth it out evenly.
    • Put the loaf tin into the oven to bake for 40 minutes, turning halfway through. Once done it will be a lovely golden colour on top, and the cheese will be gooey in the middle. 
    • Leave to stand for 30 minutes to allow it to set, then serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • Use gluten free breadcrumbs and stock to make this recipe gluten free

    Nutrition

    Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 490mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3136IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag us today!Mention @vegan_punks or tag #veganpunks!

    More Vegan Roast Dinner Recipes

    • Dan holding a glass dish of cooked vegan dauphinoise potatoes.
      Easy Vegan Dauphinoise Potatoes
    • Baby broccoli on a serving platter with spoons.
      Air Fryer Charred Broccolini (Broccoletti)
    • Roasted potatoes and broccoli on a serving plate.
      Marmite Roast Potatoes and Broccoli with Garlic and Rosemary
    • Smashed potatoes on a plate topped with fresh thyme and vegan parmesan cheese.
      Crispy Garlic Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes (Easy)
    165 shares
    • 1

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Popsy Wragg

      November 26, 2023 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      How long should this be cooked for when frozen?

      Reply
      • Jess & Dan

        November 27, 2023 at 11:06 am

        Hey Popsy! We would go for 190°C for about 40 minutes, covered in foil until the last 10-15 minutes. Hope this helps! Jess 🙂

        Reply
    2. Ashley

      November 19, 2023 at 1:07 pm

      Hi there,

      I am thinking of making this recipe for Thanksgiving and noticed a discrepancy with the oven temp. In the body of text, it states "Then you’ll want to whack your oven on to pre-heat to gas mark 6/200°C." However, the instructions state "Pre-heat your oven to 190c / gas mark 5."

      Would you please confirm which temperature is right, as this is a big difference (375f v 390./400f)

      Reply
      • Jess & Dan

        November 21, 2023 at 11:13 am

        Hey Ashley, so sorry about that! It should be 190c / gas mark 5. I'll update that now. If you make this for Thanksgiving, I really hope you enjoy it! Jess 😊

        Reply
    3. Sharon

      December 14, 2022 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      My favourite nut roast recipe, everyone loves it. I’ve made one for Xmas day with middle layer of cheese, red onion marmalade and wilted spinach, can’t wait to eat it. Now in the freezer ready for the big day, as are my roasties and Yorkshire puddings, best recipes ever for vegan Xmas dinner, and many other times of the year. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Anny

      September 03, 2022 at 9:47 am

      4 stars
      It’s a great recipe but cheesy layer really doesn’t go with a gravy dinner, even vegan gravy!

      Reply
      • Jess & Dan

        September 05, 2022 at 11:27 am

        Thank you! I think we'd have to disagree with you there, we love it with gravy, and cauliflower cheese (vegan ofc), which is often served with a roast dinner, is also great with gravy! Jess 🙂

        Reply
    5. Sophia

      December 26, 2021 at 10:20 pm

      5 stars
      This was really delicious! Made it for Christmas dinner and everyone loved it. It actually tasted even better the next day and was more set, so next time I will make it in advance. Great recipe!!

      Reply
    6. Zita

      January 11, 2021 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      I made this nut loaf last week... OMG so freaking good... Am making it again tonight... So easy to make. I made home made vegan cheese for the middle and used cashew and almonds nuts combined

      Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A Pinterest image titled Cheesy Vegan Cashew Nut Roast. The photo in the centre is a top-down shot of a golden brown nut roast with a sprig of thyme laying on top.
    A Pinterest image titled Cheesy Cashew Nut Roast. The photo shows three slices of nut roast laying on a plate with a drizzle of gravy covering them. The slices have a cheesy spinach layer running through the middle. The plate also has roast potatoes and broccoli on it.
    Jess and Dan wearing sunglasses, sat against a painted brick wall

    Hey there! Thanks for checking out Vegan Punks. We're Dan and Jess – a husband and wife team who love creating and sharing vegan recipes. We draw on our experiences of travelling the world and learning about different cuisines. That's why you'll find plant-based versions of traditional dishes from all around the globe on our blog. And, of course, all with a pinch of punk attitude.

    More about us →


    An image showing all the publications we've been shared in, including: Veganuary, LiveKindly, Vegan Food & Living and Plant Based News, amongst others.

    Never miss a recipe again!

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get our latest recipes and news direct to your inbox.

    Thanks for signing up!

    Keep your eyes peeled for brand new recipes to your inbox very soon.

    In the meantime, why not connect with us on Instagram and Facebook?

    .

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Pumpkin spice syrup in a glass jar.
      The Best Simple Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup Recipe
    • Stuffed acorn squash with quinoa, kale and sage.
      Stuffed Air Fryer Acorn Squash with Quinoa
    • Vegan pumpkin soup in a bowl, with oat cream on top and chillies and coriander. Set on top of a blue towel with a lime in the background and spoon to the left.
      Vegan Pumpkin Soup with Thai Red Curry Paste
    • Butternut squash curry in a bowl with bread, lime and coriander.
      13 Best Indian Butternut Squash Recipes (curry + more)
    • A bowl with handles full with vegan stew and dumplings, a pot of vegan vegan in the background along with another smaller bowl of stew
      Hearty Vegan Stew and Dumplings
    • Satay sweet potato curry in a bowl on a tray with condiments around it
      Satay Sweet Potato Curry

    Popular Recipes

    • Battered enoki mushrooms with Gochujang mayo.
      Crispy Fried Enoki Mushrooms with Spicy Dipping Sauce
    • Thai vegetable stir fry on a white oval plate. Broccoli, carrots cabbage and mushrooms and cashews can be seen. Set on a pink background.
      Thai Vegetable Stir Fry in 15 minutes
    • Aubergine curry with cauliflower with spoons, friend Indian snacks and Indian bread.
      Roasted Aubergine and Cauliflower Curry (Easy)
    • Two jars of Biscoff overnight oats topped with yoghurt and a biscuit. With a spoon.
      Easy Biscoff Overnight Oats (4 Ingredients)
    • Vegan egg mayo sandwich cut in half
      Vegan Egg Mayo Sandwich
    • Best Vegan Carbonara

    Footer

    A Pinterest image titled Cheesy Vegan Cashew Nut Roast. The photo in the centre is a top-down shot of a golden brown nut roast with a sprig of thyme laying on top.
    A Pinterest image titled Cheesy Cashew Nut Roast. The photo shows three slices of nut roast laying on a plate with a drizzle of gravy covering them. The slices have a cheesy spinach layer running through the middle. The plate also has roast potatoes and broccoli on it.

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Affiliate Disclaimer
    • Terms of Service

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us

    Vegan Punks is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2024 Vegan Punks®

    165 shares
    • 1