Ham Meatloaf

The ham meatloaf is a variation of the original meatloaf and is a versatile and tasty dish. Let’s look at the ingredients and preparation needed to make it.

Ingredients

• 300 g of chopped cooked ham
• 250 g of ground veal or pork meat
• 100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 100 g of stale bread
• Milk, enough to soak the bread
• 2 eggs
• Chopped parsley, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Nutmeg, to taste (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil or butter, for greasing the pan
• Breadcrumbs, for topping (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by soaking the stale bread in the milk until it softens. Squeeze it well to remove the excess milk.
2. In a large bowl, mix the chopped cooked ham with the ground meat.
3. Add the grated Parmesan cheese, the soaked bread, eggs, chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg if you like.
4. Blend all ingredients well until you get a homogeneous mixture. If necessary, adjust the salt and pepper.
5. Prepare a baking dish greased with oil or butter and place your mixture, shaping it into an elongated meatloaf.
6. If you wish, you can also sprinkle the surface of the meatloaf with breadcrumbs to get a crunchier crust.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 40-50 minutes, until the surface is golden and crispy.
8. Once cooked, let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Curiosity

Meatloaf is a very common dish on Italian tables, especially during festive occasions. Each family has its own traditional version of meatloaf, often passed down from generation to generation. In addition, it can be enriched with ingredients such as mozzarella, hard-boiled eggs, or spinach according to personal taste.

For an even more Italian touch, you could also cover the meatloaf with slices of raw ham just before finishing baking, or accompany it with a fresh tomato sauce, to take advantage of the contrast between the savory flavor of the ham and the acidity of the tomatoes. Bon appétit!