Meatloaf Revisted

A while back I posted up a recipe for meatloaf that I made. It was delicious. I made it better. I also forgot a key ingredient (eggs), which I didn't realize until just now. It didn't suffer though.

Meatloaf gets a bad rap I think. For some people it's comfort food, for others it's scary. It's also up there with chocolate chip cookies and Thanksgiving turkey in terms of "food mom makes best".

I don't expect mom will be making this one too often though, unless she's big into ground buffalo and elk.

1 lb ground pork
1 lb ground buffalo
1 lb groud elk
2 1/4 cups chopped onion
3 large garlic gloves, minced
2 cups of bread crumbs
Milk
1 1/2 tbsp sundried tomato pesto
1 1/2 tbsp chili sauce
Balsamic vinegar (let's say about 1 tbsp)
Worcestershire Sauce (a few splashes)
Chipotle hot sauce (some shakes)
1/2 tsp Smoked salt
1/4 tsp Habanero salt
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
Pinch of Habanero powder
1/2 - 1 tsp Smoked paprika
Fresh ground black pepper
Handful of chopped fresh basil

There should be 3 large eggs in here too, but I forgot them and loved it anyway. They act as a binding agent in meatloaf (holding it all together), but that didn't seem to be a problem here. Likely because of the bread crumbs and high fat content of ground pork.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Sweat the onions (tossed in oil, covered, and sautéed over low heat until clear, but not browned) and set aside to cool.

Moisten the bread crumbs with milk, a little at a time, mixed in, until they expand to about 3 cups.

Mix everything together with your hands in a large bowl, including the onions and bread crumbs.

Sample some by frying a small piece up. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Put in a loaf pan or shape on foil and put in oven for 1 hour 15 min. Remove from oven and let stand for another 10-15 minutes. Discard drippings and enjoy!

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Take this away from the recipe - meatloaf is incredibly versatile and forgiving. Like chili or stews, there is endless variation, and it's usually all good. I don't expect too many people reading here to have Salish alderwood smoked salt, or habanero powder, or even ground elk or buffalo, or probably 2 or 3 other ingredients in this recipe... experiment! Do some ground beef, ground pork, and ground chicken. Or put some ground veal in there. Try chopping up some bacon for more flavour. Don't have the various salts or spices? Pick flavours you like and go with it.