With the Winter months approaching rapidly and the chill of Fall becoming a freeze from Jack Frost, there’s nothing more satisfying then COMFORT FOOD!
Hearty meals that warm the body and stick to the bones.
Everything from soups, chili, and stews are classic comfort foods for the winter.
In my house we make all the traditional favorites; Roasted Chicken & Dumplings, Short rib beef stew, Sweet & Spicy Chili and this year I created one more comfort food favorite…Turkey & Herb Meatloaf!
Now I know what you’re thinking, meatloaf Miss. Heather? A dish that came out of the 1950’s and never seems to be as delicious as the picture shows? Well, let me tell you that I have discovered the secret to a juicy & flavorful loaf… GROUND TURKEY!
I can’t begin to tell you all of the meatloaf recipes I have tried over the years. I’ve wrapped it in bacon, added a Mirepoix and flavored the sauce every which way! No matter what changes I made, the meatloaf always ended up like a dry hamburger without a bun.
That’s when it hit me. I had already made every change to the recipe I could think of except changing out the protein. Ground turkey and ground beef are very similar to one another and can be substituted in multiple recipes. So why not meatloaf!?
BEST. DECISION. EVER!
Turkey is a high-quality protein that contains excellent sources of vitamins. Especially vitamin B3, helping the body produce energy, B6, which supports amino acids and B12, crucial for forming new red blood cells.
So not only will this meatloaf taste amazing, it’s a perfect meal for growing dancers.
A great meatloaf also needs LOTS of seasoning. Turkey meatloaf needs even more! This can include fresh herbs, dried spices and the perfect amount of S&P. I also added a few hidden vegetables to enhance the taste and add more nutrients:)
Topping off this cozy meal is our Sweet & Tangy vinegar sauce.
A sassy combination of A1 Steak sauce, ketchup, white wine vinegar and honey. Creating an explosion of savory sweetness that compliments the herb ground turkey and leaves everyone around the table wanting more!
Recipe Below:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound fresh ground turkey
- 2 eggs, yolks & whites
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt & pepper
- For the sauce…
- 1/2 cup A1 Steak sauce
- 1/4 cup Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon White wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- Pinch of S&P to taste
Instructions:
In a medium sauce pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and butter each, add the onions, saute for 5-7 minutes until the onions are translucent and the carrots are soft.
Next, add in the minced garlic, carrots and chopped fresh Rosemary and Thyme. These aromatics only need to cook 1-2 minutes, just until fragrant. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, eggs, and breadcrumbs folding gently to combine.
TIP: Folding is where you combine ingredients from the bottom of the bowl with ingredients on the top until everything is incorporated evenly.
Add the sauteed onions, carrots, garlic and herbs to the bowl and continue to fold ingredients, BUT be carefully not to over mix.
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
Now for the sauce…
Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Stir completely and set aside.
Generously grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan with the remaining tablespoon of unsalted butter and spoon in the turkey mixture, evenly spreading throughout the pan.
Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees.
Remove carefully from oven and spoon the sauce over the top of the meatloaf. Return pan to the oven for an additional 45 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees.
Once finished cooking, allow the meatloaf to rest for about 10 minutes. This will let the juices settle and make it easier to cut and remove slices from the pan.
Serve next to a side of creamy mashed potatoes, polenta or cauliflower mash for a complete feast.
Hope you enjoy!
