BUDGET BEEF MEATLOAF WITH SKINNY SCALLOPED POTATOES

CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED; PERMALINK LATER THIS WEEK

Meatloaf - American comfort food - makes a terrific wallet-friendly meal for family dinners and it helps when both Waitrose & M&S are offering specials on mince this week.

Skinny Meatloaf with easy-peasy Tomato Sauce 
and low-fat Scalloped Potatoes, French Style

updated 6 Oct; 1st posted 24 March 2015

Easy to put together, prepared in advance, this recipe is also skinner - lower in fat and cholesterol .

Both high-end grocers M&S & Waitrose are offering beef mince specials, either 750g or 500g. Waitrose's is 15% fat at £4.66, 1/3 off down from £7 while M&S is 20%fat at £4.25 for 500g.  20% fat mince is fine for this recipe BUT the meatloaf will release a lot of fat so you must  carefully pour most of it off once the meatloaf is cooked and before serving.

For even fewer calories - but higher cost - replace beef with minced turkey.

500g/17.6oz mince makes a meatloaf large enough for 4, with leftovers for sandwiches.

This recipe gives a very light, moist, soft and meaty loaf.  You don't taste the mustard, onion, garlic & Worcestershire but it gives an incredible boost to the flavour.  The addition of oatmeal, not breadcrumbs, adds fibre and makes the loaf even better for you.  

It comes with its own rich and savoury sauce.  Teamed with French style scalloped potatoes, it a mouthwatering, satisfying substantial meal.  

Want to make it go further still?  Whole boiled eggs in the centre 'a la Nigella' provide pretty slices and extra portions.  

Cost: £5.00'ish for meatloaf; around £7 for the meal (Oct 25)
Serves: 4-6

Ingred:

500g/17.6oz minced beef or turkey
1 mug diced yellow onion or fennel
2 garlic cloves, grated  (opt)
2-3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tbsp tomato puree (low-salt if you have salt issues)
2 med handfuls oatmeal 

 

          1 large raw egg 

        3 tbsp water or stock

1/2 to 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper

          3 small soft-boiled eggs, cool (opt)

1/4-1/2 cup tomato ketchup,mixed with (optional) 1tsp sugar, Worcester sauce and a couple of dashes of hot sauce OR LOW-SUGAR HOMEMADE KETCHUP

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 160c, 320F, 140 fan, gas mark 3.
2. Line bottom of loaf pan (9x5 in/23x15 cm) with a strip of greaseproof paper; leaving enough overhang to help release it from the tin when cooked
3. Coarsely process onions/fennel or dice finely; fry over med heat in 1 tsp olive oil until translucent. Cool
4. Peel eggs; leave whole
5. Blend garlic, Worcestershire, mustard and tomato puree in a bowl 
6. Add to turkey mince with onions; using a fork, mix lightly but thoroughly. Add oatmeal; toss with a fork.  Add one large egg and water/stock; mix well; add 1/2 - 1 tsp salt and 1/2-1 tsp pepper
7. Put just over half of the mince in the pan; if using hard boiuled eggs, arrange in a straight line down the middle.  Cover with the rest of the mince; with a light touch forming a rounded loaf shape.
8. Pour half the ketchup mix over the top, reserving the rest for topping up as it comes out of the oven  
9. Put a container of water in the bottom of the oven or air-fryer (important; keeps meat moist).  
10. Bake one hour 15 mins; inner temperature should be 70 degrees C.
11. Rest 15 minutes; use a serrated knife to slice.
12. Serve alongside Scalloped Potatoes, French style and frozen peas.

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This recipe has been adapted by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission