PERFECT MEATLOAF RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the carrot, celery, onion, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely chopped, almost to a puree. Place the minced vegetables into a large mixing bowl, and mix in ground chuck, Worcestershire sauce, and egg. Add Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix gently with a wooden spoon to incorporate vegetables and egg into the meat. Pour in bread crumbs. With your hand, gently mix in the crumbs with your fingertips just until combined, about 1 minute.
• Form the meatloaf into a ball. Pour olive oil into a baking dish and place the ball of meat into the dish. Shape the ball into a loaf, about 4 inches high by 6 inches across.
• Bake in the preheated oven just until the meatloaf is hot, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce. Stir until the brown sugar has dissolved.
• Remove the meatloaf from the oven. With the back of a spoon, smooth the glaze onto the top of the meatloaf, then pull a little bit of glaze down the sides of the meatloaf with the back of the spoon.
• Return meatloaf to oven, and bake until the loaf is no longer pink inside and the glaze has baked onto the loaf, 30 to 40 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loaf should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Cooking time will depend on shape and thickness of the meatloaf.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to full whack.
  2. Peel, finely chop and place the onion in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of oil.
  3. Season, add the cumin and coriander and fry for around 7 minutes, or until softened and lightly golden, stirring every 30 seconds. Remove to a large bowl to cool.
  4. Wrap the crackers in a tea towel and smash up until fine, breaking up any big bits with your hands.
  5. Add to the bowl of onion with the oregano, mustard and minced beef. Crack in the egg and add a really good pinch of sea salt and black pepper. With clean hands, scrunch and mix it up well.
  6. Move the meat mixture to a board, then pat and mould it into a large, rugby-ball shape and rub over a little oil.
  7. You can either cook it now or put it on a plate, cover, and pop in the fridge until needed. If you're cooking it now, place the meatloaf in a casserole-type pan or baking dish, then pop in the hot oven.
  8. Immediately reduce the temperature to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6 and cook for 30 minutes.
  9. Meanwhile, for the sauce, peel and chop the onion into 1cm dice, then peel and finely slice the garlic along with the chilli.
  10. Place in a large frying pan on a medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of oil, the paprika and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
  11. Cook for around 7 minutes, or until softened and lightly golden, stirring every 30 seconds or so.
  12. Drain and add the chickpeas, along with the Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes and balsamic vinegar.
  13. Bring to the boil, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste the sauce and season if needed.
  14. To finish, pick the rosemary leaves into a bowl. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and pour all the fat from the pan over the rosemary, mixing well.
  15. Spoon your sauce around the meatloaf, lay the slices of bacon or pancetta over the top and scatter over the rosemary leaves. Put the pan back in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the bacon turns golden and the sauce is bubbling and delicious.
  16. Delicious served with a mixed-leaf salad and lemon wedges for squeezing over.