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Meatloaf with red sauce, mushrooms, and sunflower seeds

17/11/2023

I can guide you in preparing a meatloaf with red sauce, mushrooms, and sunflower seeds, with that Italian touch that never hurts. Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 500g of ground meat (beef or a mix of beef and pork)
  • 1 egg
  • 50g of stale bread
  • 50ml of milk
  • 30g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Nutmeg to taste
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Chopped parsley to taste
  • 200g of mushrooms (fresh or canned)
  • 400ml of tomato puree
  • 1 small onion
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • 30g of sunflower seeds (toasted if preferred)
  • Red wine to taste (optional)

Preparation

  1. In a bowl, soak the stale bread in milk.
  2. In a larger bowl, combine the ground meat, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt, pepper, nutmeg, finely chopped garlic, and parsley. Squeeze the milk out of the bread and add it to the meat mixture.
  3. Mix the ingredients together until you have a homogenous dough. Shape the mixture into a meatloaf.
  4. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan and brown the meatloaf on all sides until golden.
  5. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Finely slice the onion and sauté with a drizzle of oil in a separate pan until it becomes translucent.
  6. Add the mushrooms cut into small pieces and cook until they are golden.
  7. Add the sunflower seeds and toast for a few minutes.
  8. Deglaze with a splash of red wine, if using, and let the alcohol evaporate.
  9. Pour in the tomato puree, adjust salt and pepper, and cook the sauce on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes to slightly reduce.
  10. Gently transfer the meatloaf into the pan with the sauce and continue cooking, covered, for about 30-40 minutes, turning the meatloaf occasionally.
  11. Serve the meatloaf sliced with the red mushroom sauce and sunflower seeds on top.

Curiosity

Meatloaf is a very common dish in Italian home cooking, and every family has their personal version. The addition of sunflower seeds brings a surprising crunch and a touch of originality that pairs well with the soft texture of the meat and the rich flavor of the mushroom sauce.

Meatloaf with red sauce, mushrooms, and sunflower seeds