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Meatloaf with Vegetables and Cheese

17/11/2023

Here is the recipe for a tasty Italian-style meatloaf with vegetables and cheese.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of ground meat (beef or a mix of beef and pork)
  • 1 egg
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 50 g of stale bread
  • 100 ml of milk
  • 2 zucchini
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 onion
  • 150 g of melting cheese (mozzarella or provolone)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Bread crumbs as needed
  • Extra virgin olive oil as needed
  • Aromatic herbs (thyme, rosemary, marjoram) according to preference

Preparation

  1. Begin by soaking the stale bread in milk to soften it.
  2. Grate the carrot and zucchini and finely chop the onion. In a pan with a drizzle of oil, lightly sauté the onion, then add the zucchini and carrot and cook until they are soft but still crunchy.
  3. Squeeze the bread well and crumble it. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg, Parmesan, bread, salt, pepper, and chopped aromatic herbs.
  4. When the vegetables have cooled down, mix them into the meat mixture.
  5. On a sheet of parchment paper sprinkled with breadcrumbs, spread the meat mixture into an even rectangle. In the center, distribute a line of melting cheese, making sure to leave an edge to be able to roll up the meatloaf.
  6. With the help of the parchment paper, roll up the mixture on itself, sealing the edges well to prevent the cheese from leaking out during cooking.
  7. Gently transfer the meatloaf to a baking dish, season with a drizzle of oil, and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 45-60 minutes, or until the surface is golden brown and crispy.
  8. Let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before cutting it, to allow the cheese to stabilize and not leak out too much.

Curiosity

The meatloaf is a very versatile dish and represents a perfect “clean-out-the-fridge” recipe. You can vary the vegetables according to what you have available or the season. It will be delicious both hot and at room temperature, just as it is liked in Italian kitchens. If you have leftovers, it’s also great the next day, reheated or even cold for a picnic or a snack.

If you wish for a side dish, a good Italian red wine can be ideal to enhance the rustic flavors of the meatloaf.