Meatloaf - what do you put in it?

[Rubyfruit]

My recipe changes depending on what I find at the grocery store, but I always start with equal parts ground beef, veal and pork.

Today's version included, chopped portabello mushrooms, shreaded zuccini, sauteed sweet onions, sun-dried tomato paste and fresh parsely.

I never understood the value of bread crumbs in meatloaf. They add no flavor and very little nutritional value.

I layer the meat mixture with sharp cheddar cheese and tomato paste.

Some past ingredients have included roasted red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes soaked in olive oil.

What are your favorite ingredients to add?

 

[Guest]

 

[Starblayde]

<insert joke about the singer meatloaf here>

 

[CarolineOh]

I make Meatloaf Florentine. You make your standard preferred meatloaf mixture, then spread it out on a piece of butcher paper. Then you spread chopped spinach all over it, sprinkle on some shredded mozzarella, and us the paper to roll it up.
It will look like a meatloaf jellyroll. You can serve it with a dab of marinara if you like.
It's yummy.

 

[erosman]

Oatmeal. It gives it a less dense texture and keeps it moist as well.

and once I used cooked barley, that was really good too.

 

[miles]

Don't let your meat loaf.

 

[CarolineOh]

Oatmeal. It gives it a less dense texture and keeps it moist as well.

and once I used cooked barley, that was really good too.

Oatmeal is definately better than bread crumbs. I've never tried barley, but that makes sense.

 

[Laurel]

ground turkey
bread crumbs (they add texture)
tomato sauce
chopped basil
1 egg

 

[JennyOmanHill]

MMMmmm mmmmm good

My Mom used to use Campbell's vegetable soup mixed in with the standards meat loaf ingredients.

Your recipe sounds delicious, Ruby! Too bad I don't cook!

 

[Rubyfruit]

Caroline, that sounds wonderful. I'm going to have to try that recipe next time. Should the meatloaf mixture be a bit more basic than I normally make it?

I'm a spinach freak. I love it raw, sauteed, steamed, in anything or on anything. You use it in this recipe raw, correct?

erosman, barley sounds like a good idea. I love the way it tastes and it's very good for you too.

Foxy, meatloaf is simply a ground meat mixture with whatever else you want to add, baked. It can be very good, or very, very bad, depending on who makes it.

 

[CarolineOh]

I haven't heard of meatloaf. Is it like hamburgers?

It is like hamburgers in that it is made from ground meat. Some people use just ground beef, although many others use mixes such as Ruby described.
The meat is mixed with various other ingredients, usually onions, often bell peppers, other veggies, mushrooms, etc.
Bread crumbs can be mixed in as a stretcher, which is what makes many pele think of meatloaf as a low-class sort of meal. You put in some eggs. maybe a little milk, depending on the consistency of your meat, shape it into a loaf, and bake it.
The variations are many. Mashed potatoes and gravy are a common accompaniment.
Now, how many jokes can the boys make over the phrase "the consistency of your meat"?

 

[Rubyfruit]

ground turkey
bread crumbs (they add texture)
tomato sauce
chopped basil
1 egg

Laurel, I know what you mean about adding texture. I've been experimenting for a while to make this dish less dense and more appealing to the tastebuds. Try chopped veggies instead of the bread crumbs. They add so much more flavor and nutrition.

I'm going to try using ground turkey in my mixture next time to lower the fat content. Good idea. Fresh basil sounds good as well.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Bread crumbs are supposed to hold it together better, I think.

I don't make meatloaf anymore. "You know how much fat is in that????" he yells and takes two tiny nibbles.

I do take a variety of in season garden vegetables mix them up with soy grits a couple of egg whites and some seasonings. He seems to like that when it's been baked for about 15 minutes.

 

[Guest]

crackers,eggs,bbq sauce or katshit

 

[Guest]

 

[Laurel]

crackers,eggs,bbq sauce or katshit

Ooh! Post the recipe!

 

[CarolineOh]

Caroline, that sounds wonderful. I'm going to have to try that recipe next time. Should the meatloaf mixture be a bit more basic than I normally make it?

I'm a spinach freak. I love it raw, sauteed, steamed, in anything or on anything. You use it in this recipe raw, correct?

erosman, barley sounds like a good idea. I love the way it tastes and it's very good for you too.

Foxy, meatloaf is simply a ground meat mixture with whatever else you want to add, baked. It can be very good, or very, very bad, depending on who makes it.

You would want a pretty basic mix, because if you have a lot of ingredients in it, it will break apart when you roll it.
I blanche the spinach just a little bit to make it easier to work with. Even just running it under hot water for a minute works fine.

 

[Rhys]

I put a package of Lipton's French onion soup in mine...I think the recipe is actually on the back of the package...

this is assuming of course that I don't pop over to Treasure Island or Mandalay Bay...they have the best meatloaf in town...

 

[Rubyfruit]

Muffin, what are soy grits? Lose the bread crumbs. You don't need them to hold it together.

You know, this dish has evolved over the years. When I was growing up my mom used to make it with bread crumbs and ketchup.

It could be fairly healthy, if you used lower fat meats, such as Laurel does, and add even more veggies.

Another tip, when I make it, I make a huge batch and freeze half of the raw meat mixture. That way, you have a meal almost ready to go right in your freezer.

 

[KillerMuffin]

"Soy grits are toasted, cracked soybeans that are usually the size of tiny flakes, although sometimes you will find them as big as pieces of cracked wheat. Like soy flour, they may be made using the whole soybean or may have the fat removed."

I don't make meatloaf anymore. I rarely use ground meat anymore for anything. Even when I'm lazy and crack open a box of hamburger helper I use diced steak. The only thing I use ground meat for is tacos and lasanga or other meat sauce. Mostly we eat chicken here. Baked.

 

[erosman]

and if there are leftovers....

I love a meatloaf sandwich, with hot mustard and lettuce, on light rye.

That's bitchin for me.

 

[Laurel]

Laurel, I know what you mean about adding texture. I've been experimenting for a while to make this dish less dense and more appealing to the tastebuds. Try chopped veggies instead of the bread crumbs. They add so much more flavor and nutrition.

I'm going to try using ground turkey in my mixture next time to lower the fat content. Good idea. Fresh basil sounds good as well.

I'll try chopped veggies - thanks! With ground turkey, you really really need to cut it with some sort of filler. Turkey's low-fat, but it also tends to be kinda tasteless, and its texture IMHO isn't conducive to 'loaf unless filler is added.

Ooh, almost forgot...I also add one med. chopped onion and one small chopped green pepper. That, the basil, and the tomato sauce really help de-bland the turkey. I use the bread crumbs that you can buy with seasoning added. I'll try the chopped veggies next time and see how it goes.

 

[lovetoread]

Just as a side note,I tend to overcook my meatloaf o ) and was wondering on how long you usually cook it for and at what temp?

 

[Andreina]

minced chicken and turkey
3-5 tablespoons of dijon mustard (try this ladies, you'll love it)
rosemary
chopped sundried tomatoes with 2tblsp of the oil they come in
a bit of sage (just tiny bit)
garlic
onion (to keep the stuff moist)
breadcrumbs
1-2 eggs
1 red pepper
1 grated carrot

Halo

 

[Rubyfruit]

lovetoread, use a meat thermometer and take it out of the over 5-10 degrees before it reaches the correct temp. (The thermometers say on them what temps for which types of meat.) Let it rest for 10 minutes and it should be perfect.

Most people don't realize that food continues to cook after you take it out of the oven.

I cook it at 375.