Italian Meatloaf with Marinara Sauce
By Chef Australia (@chef_australia)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups diced red bell pepper / capsicum ((1 large))
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups stale white bread (, crusts removed, roughly diced (about 3 slices))
- 1 small onion
- 2 tbsp cream ((or milk))
- 13 oz / 400 g ground pork ((mince))
- 1.6lb / 800 g ground beef ((mince))
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
- 3 tsp paprika ((sweet or smoked))
- 1 3/4 tsp salt
- Pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves (, minced)
- 1/2 onion (, finely chopped (brown, white, yellow))
- 1.4 lb / 700 g tomato passata or crushed tinned tomatoes ((Note 1))
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tsp dried Mixed Italian Herbs
- 1 - 3 tsp red pepper flakes ((optional))
- Salt and pepper
Directions
- 1Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Spray a 28cm/11" loaf pan, then line with parchment / baking paper, leaving overhang (Note 2).
- 2Heat oil over high heat. Add capsicum, leave for 1 minute without stirring so it starts to char (burn) then stir and continue cooking to char it more (about 2 minutes in total). Remove and set aside.
- 3Place bread in a large bowl. Grate onion into the bowl, using a normal box cutter (Note 3). Add cream, then use your hands to squidge the mixture together so the bread is completely soaked and starts to disintegrate.
- 4Add remaining meatloaf ingredients, including capsicum. Use your hands to mix it together until JUST combined. Do not over mix otherwise it will become dense.
- 5Press into the loaf pan (Note 4). Drizzle with olive oil then bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make the Sauce.
- 6Take the meatloaf out of the oven. Carefully lift the meatloaf out of the loaf pan (using the paper overhang) onto a work surface. Then transfer the meatloaf into the skillet with the Sauce.
- 7Pour juices in the loaf pan into the skillet. Return to the oven for a further 30 to 40 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.
- 8Take it out of the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve the meatloaf with the Sauce, garnished with parmesan if desired.
- 9I like to serve this with mashed potatoes but it is also lovely with pasta.
- 10Heat oil in a ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes until translucent.
- 11Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes on the stove, adjusting salt and pepper to taste.
- 12Take it off the stove. Follow the steps above to place the meatloaf in and bake it.
Nutrition per serving
199 kcal · 13g protein · 8g carbs · 13g fat