Prepare the Nutloaf:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan and set aside.
- Chop Vegetables and Nuts: Finely chop the celery and green pepper. In a food processor, pulse the walnuts, cashews, and blanched almonds until they are finely chopped, but not a paste.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped nuts, cooked rice, grated cheese, sage, thyme, basil, salt, hing, black pepper, chopped celery, and green pepper.
- Combine with Sauce: Add 1 1/2 cups of the prepared Tomato Sauce to the mixture and mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Form the Loaf: Transfer the mixture into the greased loaf pan, pressing it down firmly and evenly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the loaf is set.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the nutloaf to cool slightly before slicing. Serve with the remaining Tomato Sauce.
Prepare the Tomato Sauce:
- Heat Oil/Ghee: In a saucepan, heat the oil or ghee over medium heat.
- Add Hing and Pepper: Add a pinch of hing and the black pepper, and sauté for a minute until aromatic.
- Add Tomato Puree: Pour in the tomato puree and stir well.
- Season: Add the salt, basil leaves, and a pinch of sugar. Stir to combine.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cool: Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool slightly before using it in the nutloaf mixture.