
This is my first ever entry to the widespread, well-loved internet phenomenon known as Meatless Monday. To get me acclimated I made a lentil loaf – but I called it a Lentil Pâté. For obvious reasons, right? Lentil loaf is gray and lifeless. It’s hard to make a glamorous lentil loaf. But pâté, well that’s seductive, huh? After all, why can’t Meatless Monday be enthralling? Burdensome name aside, Meatless Monday has the potential to be magnetic. I’ve often thought that vegetarianism too often focuses on the absence of the meat rather than the presence of vegetables.
I’m sure a lot of vegetarians would disagree with that statement, but from a non-vegetarian point-of-view it seems to me that the produce itself gets short shrift when the dishes are defined that way. I mean come on “meatless” is so negative. Why concentrate on what it’s “not” when vegetables have so much that “is”. Why not call it V‑Day? I know there’s no day of the week that starts with “V” but can’t we all be just a little more imaginative? I mean V‑day – it’s much more celebratory than sad, drab Meatless Monday.
Lentil Pâté
Nonetheless, I have a reason for participating and bringing you this Lentil Pâté on V‑Day (forever formerly known on this blog as Meatless Monday). That’s because I’m trying to do as many meatless Thanksgiving dishes as I can this year. I’m having an unprecedented number of vegetarians at my T‑Gives table and I want them to feel welcome. It’s a thankless job, but in my opinion pâté makes people feel wooed!
Who doesn’t want to be wooed? To me (and I hope to vegetarians everywhere) Lentil Pâté sounds like an exceptional, celebratory way to get a special meal rolling. Sure, my Lentil Pâté is a meatless pâté, but I’m no more likely to emphasis that than I am to continue calling the first day of the workweek Meatless Monday. We all know “less” is more… so I prefer the terms V‑Day and T‑Gives. After all it’s all in the name. GREG
Now you’re talking! (but of course)
So agree, it’s about what’s in it — not what isn’t. And this sounds super delicious — Sherry and mushrooms are one of my all time favorite pairings! I’m a fan of “V‑Day!” xo V 😉
Greg, looks good, sounds good. I’ve been vegetarian at various points of my life, and I tried to avoid imitating meat. Legumes and vegetables are so good, they don’t need to be made to “taste just like chicken.” I love that you call it pate! And since I have an aversion to organ meats, this is one pate I can really be enthusiastic about!
We eat a lot of meatless meals (because we love the flavor of so many veggies and legumes), but rarely do so on Monday. Although we’re suckers for alliteration, so love labeling dishes as “Meatless Monday” appropriate. Anyway, pâté does sound classier than loaf, although it’s really the same thing. But no matter what you call this, I’d call it good. Thanks!
I agree- I have always believed in making dishes that are wonderful for what you actually put in them, rather than trying to replicate what you are trying to leave out of them.
V‑Day — what a lovely idea! Definitely pate over loaf any day. And this lentil pate looks delicious.
I love lentils — and I love this recipe! And, your website looks great!
I suppose if you were French, you might have gone with Legumes Lundis. But I like V‑days, but I don’t like to corner myself into having only one veggie meal a week. The pâté looks quite good, and seems quite versatile — can you see it on a bun with saffron mayo?
I used to write a monthly recipe newsletter that was distributed by email in PDF format. Every November, I put out an all vegetarian issue for Thanksgiving, because I was really sad for my veggie friends who were relegated to the dry stuffing, some mashed potatoes and a few green beans. My table always has a veg entrée which I usually liked better than the turkey!
This sounds great to me. Meatless or not. And just so you know there is something I’ve never made called mock chopped liver. It is made with green beans. Try it and let me know!
I love your creative approach to pleasing vegetarians at the table! Although I am rarely toooo sad to just eat a gigantic plate of baked-without-chicken-broth stuffing,having some other options is always appreciated:)
Your lentil pâté looks delicious. I’m looking forward to your V‑Days.
So that means welcome to Meatless Mondays. What a great starter!
This looks seductive to me! And sounds awesome. Happy to see you on the meatless Monday train — why not?!