67GOINGON50'S FAVOURITE AUTUMN MEALS COMES ROUND AGAIN, THANKFULLY....

One of the great things about the onset of autumn is the re-appearance of a  favourite meal: meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and peas.  Easy to put together, with  its own sauce and wonderfully creamy potatoes, it's easy to put together.  And it's skinnier too and doesn't break the bank.

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

updated 6 Oct; 1st posted 24 March 2015

This American comfort food is an even better family meal at a time when both Waitrose & M&S are offering specials on mince.

Waitrose's is 750g, 15% fat at £4.66, 1/3 off, down from £7 while M&S' is 20% fat at £4.25 for 500g.   Both levels of fat are fine for this recipe BUT the meatloaf will release a lot of it; for your health's sake carefully pour most of it off once the meatloaf is cooked and before serving.

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.  

Teamed with French style scalloped potatoes (dairy free if made with almond milk) it's a delicious satisfying substantial meal.  

Want to make it go further still?  Whole boiled eggs in the centre 'a la Nigella' provides 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, though it will likely cost more)
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 or air fryer 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 oil until translucent. Cool
4. Peel eggs if using; leave whole
5. Blend garlic, Worcestershire, mustard and tomato puree in a bowl 
6. Add to 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. Layer just over half the mince in the pan; arrange boiled eggs if using 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/air fryer (important; keeps meat moist).  
10. Bake one hour 15 mins; inner temperature should be 70 degrees C.
11. Rest 15 minutes; carefully pour off excess fat.  Use a serrated knife to slice.
12. Serve alongside Scalloped Potatoes, French style and frozen peas.

Comments:
'Lovely flavour; very tender.' Retired writer

Tips:

• Elsewhere in the Blog are a couple of recipes for Skinnier meatloaf using turkey mince to boost the health-giving factor.
• American meatloaves often combine beef, pork and sometimes veal. 
• This recipe is also great with mashed swede and green beans.  

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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