How to Make a Meatloaf?

How many of us do not know what a meatloaf is? Well, I bet everyone who grew up enjoying homemade dishes by our moms certainly knows about meatloaf, at least, taste-wise.

The very common dish in every gathering or in a common household, a meatloaf is ground meat, which is formed into a loaf shape, similar to loaf bread that is cooked either through baking or smoking. The formation of the loaf shape can be done either forming it by hand or by cooking it in a pan. The most common meat used in a meatloaf is a ground beef, but you could also try lamb, pork, poultry, veal or combination of any, for a different style.

Commonly, the meatloaf is eaten together with a sauce or a relish that adds flavor, making it more delicious. The most common sauces served with a meat loaf are tomato ketchup, barbecue sauce or a mixture of tomato ketchup and mustard. Pasta and tomato sauces could also serve as relish and you could also use simple brown gravy or an onion gravy as alternatives.

In the 5th century, meatloaf has already been a delicacy in some parts of Europe, cooked from minced meat loaves. It was traditional dish in some countries like Germany and Belgium and was almost synonymous to Italy’s meatball, while the famous American meatloaf was made from the mixture of ground pork and cornmeal, which is also known as scrapple.

One may think that meatloaf is complicated to do, from choosing the quality of the ingredients, to right timing of mixing and the accurate measurements, to the proper technique in cooking. But, in the proceeding paragraphs, here are simple steps in making your own meatloaf at home –even without training in a professional cooking school.


Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. lean ground beef
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup fine plain dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons dried minced onion or ½ cup finely minced onion
• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ cup ketchup (can be added more for additional sauce, if desired)
• 4 tablespoons ketchup
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons Dijon or mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Optional toppings or glaze





Preparation:
(This may take for about 1 hour and 20 minutes)
• Combine the ground beef, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, onion, seasoning and ½ cup ketchup.
• Mix until well blended.
• If using some toppings, mix all the topping ingredients and then set aside.
• Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour and 10 minutes (preheated 350 degrees).
• Drain off any excess grease top it with about 4 tablespoons of ketchup or the prepared topping mixture, if there is.
• Bake it for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Serves 6-8 persons.


Other tips and ideas for flavor enhancement:

• For more flavor and a juicier meatloaf, add about 1/4 cup of tomato juice, wine, or broth for each pound of meat.
• Bake in muffin tins or mini-loaf pans for individual servings.
• Use leftovers sliced in sandwiches or crumbled in sauces or chili.
• Replace some of the liquid in the recipe with red wine or dark beer.
• Add a cup of grated or shredded cheese to the meatloaf and top with more cheese about 10 minutes before it's done.
• Replace liquids with red wine or dark beer.
• Make the finished meatloaf extra fancy by frosting with mashed potatoes and topping with cheese; return to the oven and cook until the cheese is melted.


In common gatherings like Christmas parties and/or family reunions, meatloaf is best served with a lemonade juice any fruit juice. And as of today, there are already different variations of meatloaf created all around the world. In Denmark, meatloaf is commonly called forolen hare or farsbrod which is a mixture of ground beef and pork, topped with strips of bacon. Polpettone is what the Italians call for their version of meatloaf and while here in the Philippines, it is famously called, embutido which is made up of well seasoned ground pork mixed with minced carrots, sausages and whole boiled eggs. It is usually wrapped in an aluminum foil and steamed for at least an hour.