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Stuffed Meatloaf

17/11/2023

The stuffed meatloaf is a classic of Italian cuisine, a substantial dish that can be customized to taste. Here’s the basic recipe, which you can then adapt according to your preferences.

Ingredients

  • 500g of ground meat (beef, pork or a mix of the two)
  • 100g of cooked ham, diced
  • 100g of cheese of your choice (such as mozzarella or fontina), diced
  • 1 egg
  • 50g of breadcrumbs
  • 50ml of milk
  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil

For the sauce:

  • 400g of tomato purée
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • A pinch of sugar (optional)

Preparation

  1. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg, breadcrumbs previously softened in milk and squeezed out, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper until you get a homogeneous mixture.
  2. Spread the meat mixture on a work surface, forming a rectangle about 1-2 cm thick.
  3. Evenly distribute the dices of cheese and cooked ham over the meat mixture.
  4. Roll up the meat on itself, starting from one long side, to form the meatloaf and seal the ends well to prevent the filling from escaping during cooking.
  5. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of oil and brown the meatloaf on all sides to seal the juices inside.
  6. In the meantime, prepare the sauce by sautéing the chopped onion in a drizzle of oil until it becomes transparent. Add the tomato purée, a pinch of sugar to correct the acidity if necessary, salt, and pepper. Let it cook for a few minutes.
  7. Transfer the meatloaf into the pan with the sauce, cover and let it cook over low heat for about 40-50 minutes, turning the meatloaf occasionally.
  8. Once cooked, let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before cutting it into slices and serving it with its sauce and a side dish of your choice.

Curiosity

The meatloaf lends itself to many variations, both for the filling and for the meat used. In some Italian regions, it is also enriched with whole hard-boiled eggs at the center or with spinach. Moreover, it can be baked in the oven rather than in a pan for a lighter variant.

I hope you like this recipe! You can customize it as you prefer and if you need to replace any ingredient or have any special requests, do not hesitate to ask me. Happy cooking!

Stuffed Meatloaf