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Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

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Spinach & Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf

Published on June 3, 2014 • Last updated January 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Atia
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Spinach and Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf

Meatloaf isn’t pretty, is it. There’s no way to possibly photograph meatloaf to make it look like an enticing appetising food, but I have to say, despite its appearance, this meatloaf is awesome! I’ve been making this meatloaf recipe for years now and my family love it. Even the children, and when it comes to getting kids to eat meatloaf all parents know that can be a tricky affair.

The original recipe is one I’ve adapted from the Dairy Book of British Food (1988) but I’ve upped it a notch by stuffing it with spinach and mozzarella cheese. My initial plan was to fill it with Shetland Cheese reeky jack, a local smoked Monterey Jack cheese, but I haven’t seen that cheese in my village shop for awhile, so I’ve used mozzarella instead for the purposes of sharing the recipe. Any gooey lovely melting cheese could be used.

The first time I’d ever had a stuffed meatloaf was while visiting my father on the west coast of Canada. He made a meatloaf from the minced wild moose meat given to him by a friend and he stuffed it with spinach, cheese and pine mushrooms we’d harvested that day from the forest behind his house. It was heavenly! I don’t have a photograph of the meatloaf (this was before I started religiously photographing my food!) but I do have a photo of the mushrooms and of him picking them.

Harvesting Pine Mushrooms in British Columbia, Canada
Harvesting Pine Mushrooms in British Columbia, Canada

no-waste-food-badgeAs the mozzarella cheese I used for this recipe was on its best-before date, and the spinach was starting to wilt in my fridge and needed using up I am sharing this recipe with the No Waste Food Challenge hosted this month by the lovely Michelle over at Utterly Scrummy. If I had mushrooms I would have thrown them in too.

I’m also linking up to a new food blogging challenge on the block by #Bibs2014 Food Finalist Lucy over at Supergoldenbakes: #CookBlogShare. Each Monday she’ll put up a new linky for folk to share their recipes with. Do pop over for a look!

CookBlogShare

Spinach & Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf

A delicious, moist Italian style meatloaf stuffed with spinach and cheese.
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Elizabeth

Ingredients

For the meatloaf

  • 15 grams butter
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 500 grams lean steak mince
  • 75 grams fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1 garlic clove crushed
  • 4 tbsp tomato puree
  • handful fresh chopped herbs parsley, marjoram, basil, etc
  • 1 free-range egg beaten
  • Shetland sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

Filling

  • 120 grams spinach tough stalks removed
  • 150 grams mozzarella cheese
  • Shetland sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
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Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 180 C / 350 F. Line a 2 litre bread pan with baking paper. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in a skillet and sauté onion until softened (a few minutes). Add paprika and sauté a further minute.
  • Mix beef, breadcrumbs, garlic, tomato purée, herbs, egg and onion mixture together in a large bowl using your hands to combine thoroughly. Season well with salt and pepper.
  • Wash and chop the spinach, removing any tough stalks. Cook in a dry pan until wilted. Drain excess liquid if required.
  • Lay out a sheet of greaseproof paper on your work surface.
  • Press meat out into a rectangle the length of you bread pan and 1/2 inch thick.
  • Sprinkle with a layer of chopped cooked spinach and then with a layer of torn mozzarella cheese.
  • Using the greaseproof paper to help. start rolling along the short side of the rectangle. Press into shape as you roll.
  • Close both ends of the meatloaf by firmly pressing the edges together.
  • Place the meatloaf in the bread pan and cover tightly with tin foil so that no moisture can escape.
  • Place tin in a large casserole pan filled with 1 inch of water.
  • Bake for 90 minutes. Remove the foil and broil for a few minutes under a high heat if you want to crisp up the top.
  • Serve with creamed potatoes and extra veg. Leftovers (if there are any!) freeze very well.

Environmental Information

Tried this recipe?Mention @TangoRaindrop or tag #elizabethskitchendiary - we'd love to see what you've been making!

 

Made with Love Mondays, hosted by Javelin Warrior

Tasty Tuesdays on HonestMum.com

Category: Beef, Recipe

About Elizabeth Atia

Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Margaret Gallagher

    February 27, 2018 at 3:25 pm

    Npt something ive tried before – sure the family will really enjoy the taste – quick and easy too

    Reply
  2. Zoey P

    March 9, 2016 at 8:20 am

    Never thought to try this combination, but it sounds delicious.

    Reply
  3. Paul Wilson

    March 4, 2015 at 1:40 am

    I like a bit of meat loaf.

    Reply
  4. bev

    September 7, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Looks delicious!

    Reply
  5. Eleanor Wigmore

    August 19, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    This looks great. I made meatloaf the other day for the first time. I might use this recipe for my second attempt.

    Reply
  6. Honey

    July 19, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Looks yummy!

    Reply
  7. KATE SARSFIELD

    July 17, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    Ooh, this looks good! Def. one to be tried out this w/end>

    Reply
  8. Heather Haigh

    June 30, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    I have never made or even eaten meatloaf but it sounds very tasty.

    Reply
  9. Michelle Utterlyscrummy

    June 29, 2014 at 2:32 pm

    Such an easy and delicious family dinner and a great solution to cheese and greens past their best in the fridge. Perfect for making in advance, putting in the fridge and quickly shoving in the oven in the evening. I’ve made meatloaf quite a lot but never with stuffing, will definitely give this a go. Thanks so much for letting me host and for linking up with No Waste Food Challenge this month 🙂

    Reply
  10. Laura

    June 9, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    You know, I’ve never had meatloaf, always imagining it to be something full of rubbish that I wouldn’t like but I’ve no idea why because reading yours makes it sound delicious. I’m going to suggest it to my mum to make one day when she has some mince and doesn’t feel like making a cottage pie =)

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 11, 2014 at 4:15 pm

      Oh you have to try it! A good meatloaf is one of those amazing comfort food dishes. Of course, a bad meatloaf can ruin the notion of meatloaf ever again, but this one is nice – promise! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Anne's Kitchen

    June 9, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    I’ve not made meatloaf in ages, you have photographed it well – mine looked like er well best not go there.. Love the gooey cheese and spinach filling idea, definitely something I will try!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 11, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      Thanks Anne – you should give it a go when the weather is a bit dreary outside. It’s excellent comfort food 🙂

      Reply
  12. Emily

    June 8, 2014 at 10:30 pm

    What a fab idea! Never tried making anything like this so will have to give it a go xx

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 9, 2014 at 6:56 am

      Thanks Emily 🙂 I do love a good meatloaf, me! You should try it!

      Reply
  13. Emily @amummytoo

    June 8, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    That’s beautiful! Really, really appealing – and I’ve never seen it done this way before. Fab.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 9, 2014 at 6:57 am

      Aw thanks! I don’t think there are many meatloaves where one can say that, haha! 😀 Thanks for popping by!

      Reply
  14. Dominic

    June 7, 2014 at 11:06 am

    god this looks gorgeous… i’ve never made a meatloaf and you make it look so easy and so yummy… love how it also looks so contemporary with the mozzarella, I love it!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 7, 2014 at 12:13 pm

      Thank you Dom! I can’t believe you’ve never made meatloaf before, oh you’ve been missing out! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Honest Mum

    June 5, 2014 at 6:59 am

    How delicious does this look! Wow, will have to make this-I eat mozzarella constantly! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 5, 2014 at 7:17 am

      Thank you! Glad you like the look of it 🙂

      Reply
  16. Ciara Attwell (@MyFussyEater)

    June 4, 2014 at 11:10 am

    I think you did a pretty good job of photographing it. It looks yum!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 11, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      Thank you Ciara 🙂

      Reply
  17. Alison

    June 4, 2014 at 10:01 am

    I think you have succeeded in making meatloaf look delicious. I am tempted to try this, never liked the look of meatloaf before

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 4, 2014 at 10:41 am

      Aw thanks! 🙂 I do hope you try it – it’s so easy to make and tastes fantastic! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Javelin Warrior

    June 3, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    I knew there had to be a way to work more nutrition and texture into meatloaf – and this is genius! Love the stuffing and what a beautiful result. Meatloaf may be tricky to photograph, but I think you’ve got a winning shot!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 4, 2014 at 8:55 am

      Thanks Mark! So glad you like the sound (and look!) of it 🙂

      Reply
  19. Tarana

    June 3, 2014 at 6:48 pm

    Looks like a really wholesome recipe! Love the combination of meat, spinach, and cheese.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 4, 2014 at 8:55 am

      Thanks Tarana, I suppose it is a healthier version, somewhat!

      Reply
  20. Janine ( chezJ9 )

    June 3, 2014 at 3:51 pm

    Looks great Elizabeth. I used to always use up mince by doing a meat loaf when I was working in busy kitchens and have been meaning to do one in a while. You have just reminded me regarding a recipe I used to do. Thanks for that hun! 🙂

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 11, 2014 at 3:34 pm

      Thanks Janine – how do you make your meatloaf?

      Reply
  21. Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)

    June 3, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    Been trying to do a decent shaped meatload but its always a fail for me. This process is so helpful! Will go back to tell you if I finally got it right =) #TastyTuesdays

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 3, 2014 at 2:00 pm

      Oh do let me know how you get on! 🙂 Thanks for popping by!

      Reply
  22. Lucy @SupergoldenBakes

    June 3, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    I used to kid that the most difficult food to photograph attractively is meatloaf but you have made a very good job of it! I haven’t made any in over a decade – the stuffing is a genius idea! Thanks so much for linking to #CookBlogShare

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      June 3, 2014 at 2:01 pm

      You can make absolutely anything look stunning with your photography (I am so envious of your glorious, glorious light!) so I reckon you should try 🙂 Thanks for hosting such a fab new challenge (and being so quick to comment!) x

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Five Foodies Who Can Show You How… | Larders of London says:
    May 26, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    […] a good for the soul and good on a cold afternoon. Plenty of recipes here, but my favourite is the Spinach and Mozzarella stuffed meatloaf. So tasty and so […]

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  2. Turkey Meatloaf & ActiFry Roast Potatoes - Fab Food 4 All says:
    December 15, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    […] Spinach and Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary […]

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  3. Cheesy Spinach Bake says:
    June 26, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    […] serving with spiced puy lentils and a poached egg (pictured below right with asparagus kale), or adding it as a layer with mozzarella cheese into a meatloaf (below […]

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About Elizabeth

Adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Loves bikes. Calls Shetland home. Read More…

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“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”

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