Jackfruit Christmas Dinner

method:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Peel the potatoes, and wash the carrots and parsnips. Cut the potatoes into quarters, halve the parsnips, and remove the skins from the sprouts.
• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water, and add a generous pinch of salt. Put the pan on the stove, turn the heat up high, bring to the boil and cook for five minutes. Add the parsnips and carrots and cook for a further five minutes.
• Remove the pan from the stove and drain the vegetables into a colander. Separate the carrots and parsnips with a pair of tongs and set them to one side. Toss the potatoes in the colander to fluff the sides and set them to one side to dry and cool. Put the potatoes in the roasting tin, drizzle with a good glug of olive oil, a generous pinch of salt and a grind of pepper. Shake the potatoes around in the tin making sure they are covered in oil. Throw the garlic gloves in with the potatoes and bake for 25 minutes.
• Bring another pan of water to the boil and add in the sprouts. Cook for five minutes, drain and set aside.
• Pour the olive into a pan until it sizzles, add the jackfruit, herbs, salt, sugar, and stir well, until the jackfruit is covered in the flavourings. Cook for 2-3 minutes. With a pair of spatulas, mould the jackfruit mixture as best you can into a loaf shape, then slice it into thick slices, and set aside but keep warm.
• Take the tin out of the oven, turn the potatoes and push them to one side. Add the carrots and parsnips in the tray, then drizzle with oil. Place the stuffing into the oven at this point, too (if using). Sprinkle the rosemary and thyme over the veg and place back into the oven for 30 minutes.
• While the vegetables are roasting, make the gravy. Remove the roast garlic from the roasting tray and crush it into a paste. Warm a tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the garlic, tomato puree, Marmite and plain flour to the saucepan and stir for two minutes to make a thick, flavoured roux. Pour in the red wine and turn up the heat for five minutes. Pour the vegetable stock into the pan and simmer again for eight minutes to thicken. Turn the heat right down and keep the pan on the stove to keep warm.
• Take the pan out of the oven, plate up the dinner, pour over the gravy and serve immediately with the cranberry sauce.