Luscious Meatloaf Recipe (Gluten-free option)

 

  Picture provided by Stonewallkitchen.com

     The other day my family and I went to my husband's cousin's house for a Sunday playdate with the kids. In the week before my husband and I decided that we wanted to be the ones to make Sunday dinner. Every other time that we've gone to visit the family they have been the ones to feed us and we felt it was time that we show off some of our culinary prowess. As my husband and I discussed what to make, throwing out things like sushi rolls, roasted chicken and plain old fashioned hamburgers and hotdogs we came to an agreement of meatloaf since we haven't had it in a while and it sounded warm and homey. 

    For the meatloaf preparation we prepared the raw vegetables a day ahead of time. Then on the day we were to go to see the family we sauteed the vegetables and cooked the meatloaf half way a couple of hours before we had to leave and then took it to our destination to pop in the oven for the last half an hour before dinner time. 

    We decided to cook it half way so that we didn't have to prepare it all there in someone elses kitchen and to save on time once we got there to actually spend more time with the family, which is always important.

   The meatloaf came out perfect! There wasn't a single crumble left in the serving serving dish once dinner was done.

   You can prepare it all at once if you're just making dinner for the family at home. The succulent aroma coming from the oven will make everyone who's been hiding in the den or mancave all afternoon gather in the kitchen with their mouths watering and their tongues hanging out. This is a good time to get them to mash some potatoes and set up the table while you go and have a sip of your "afternoon tea".

   

     This meatloaf tends to be juicy, crusty on the outside, slightly crumbly on the inside, flavorful and delicious. And mostly gluten free. Everything in the ingredients is gluten free with the exception of the Maggie sauce and the soy seasoning sauce, either is completely optional and neither of which is necessary for this meatloaf to be a success. If you don't already have these in your pantry or spice rack then it would be fine to leave them out rather than to be sent on a wild goose chase to an international foods market where those who work there may or may not known how to speak English or know what you're talking about.

     The sauces do add a slight depth of flavor, slightly meatier in taste and aroma and added saltiness. Don’t use the sauces for those who are extremely sensitive to gluten. However, for those who are slightly gluten sensitive or can handle small amounts of gluten now and then, then in my experience, it is ok to use in this recipe without any gluten-related reactions.  

      The Kix cereal has also been a topic of discussion as to whether is it gluten free or not since nowhere on the box does it say gluten-free. There are no ingredients in the ingredients listed that contain wheat or gluten products, nor does it say it contains wheat or gluten products. 

     Most of the reviews that I have gotten from mothers with gluten sensitive children say that their children eat Kix cereal with no ill effects. And most of the reviews I've read from gluten sensitive adults who eat the cereal say that they do not have any gluten-related problems with it either. But when in doubt, a certified gluten free Kix-type cereal or GF breadcrumbs or potato flakes can be used in place of the Kix which I replaced for gluten-full breadcrumbs that I used to use in this recipe before going gluten-free.

This meatloaf makes around 6 large servings or around 8-10 small servings. This recipe can be easily halved for a meal for 4 with suggested 2 side dishes.

Luscious Meatloaf Recipe (Mostly gluten-free)

This recipe makes about 6 large servings or 8-10 small servings

Ingredients

3 pounds of ground beef (80/20)

1 finely chopped medium onion

1 finely chopped medium zucchini (2 small or half one large zucchini will work fine)

½ finely chopped green bell pepper (other color of bell pepper)

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 cups of crushed Kix Cereal (other comparable GFcereal or potato flakes or GF breadcrumbs)

2 or 3 medium eggs

1 cup of applesauce

1 Tbsp of olive oil (vegetable or corn or other comparable oil, I use Smart Balance)

1 Tbsp garlic salt + 1 tsp garlic salt for sauté vegetables

1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp ground sage

1 tsp dried basil flakes

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp dry yellow mustard

½ cup ketchup

(optional) 10 squirts of Maggie seasoning sauce (20 squirts of generic soy seasoning sauce usually found in asian food markets will work too. Warning: Maggie and soy seasoning sauce contains Gluten! And neither is absolutely necessary for this recipe but gives the meatloaf slight depth of flavor and added saltiness)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Add Onion, zucchini, bell pepper and oil into a medium sauce pan on medium heat and sauté a few minutes stirring occasionally until onion is translucent and vegetables are fragrant. Add 1 tsp of garlic salt and heat for another minute or so, stirring occasionally. Turn heat off and set aside sautéed vegetables, allow to cool slightly.

In a large bowl add ground beef, grated parmesan cheese, eggs, crushed Kix cereal, 1 Tbsp of garlic salt, 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp ground sage, 1 tsp basil flakes, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp dried yellow mustard. Add Maggie or soy seasoning sauce if so desired, warning they contain gluten.  Add applesauce and slightly cooled sautéed vegetables to mixture. Combine all the ingredients together until well incorporated.

Place mixture onto a foil lined baking sheet or large rectangular glass pyrex baking dish and shape into a loaf.

Place into heated oven for 45 minutes.

Take meatloaf out of oven and spread ketchup over the top of meatloaf and place back into over for 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.  

Take meatloaf out of oven, check for doneness and allow to cool about 10-20 minutes before moving to serving dish or cutting to allow meatloaf to set slightly.

The picture at the top of the page is from Stonewallkitchen.com because it looks similar to this meatloaf recipe, Thank you Stonewallkitchen.com.