Umamibomb Meatloaf
Last fall, just as the season was turning, I brought dinner over to a friend's house. I had downloaded this recipe from Serious Eats a while before but remained intimidated by it. But this was going to be a treat to bring to her, and I wanted to pull out all of the stops, so I was determined to challenge myself. And from the moment I started making it, I fell in love. It was a joy to prepare. The science behind it makes me a little giddy. It traveled beautifully even though I had to take two hours' worth of trains to get to her. My only regret was that I had one portion of it, and then left the rest for her to enjoy as leftovers. Where were myyyyyyy leftovers?
This meatloaf takes a while to prepare, but it is an Ur-Meatloaf, the meatloaf about which all other meatloaves dream. This meatloaf will be waiting for me in the freezer when I need it. This meatloaf is all mine. (Or maybe I'll share it; I like to share.)
Planning!
Honestly, there was nothing to it, but to do it! I've made this recently. I've gotten a new loaf pan since my first round with this, but I wasn't too concerned. Onward, said I!
Here's the nutritional breakdown from Fitbit...
As with a lot of the batch cooking, I'll be freezing this in two stashes of 4 portions each. When the time comes for me to enjoy it, I'll come up with some kind of delicious side veggie to go with it. And because the meatloaf is done, I'll only have to prep the veg! Planning!
Groceries I had on hand...
- chicken broth
- buttermilk (I doctor up Lactaid whole milk with a little apple cider vinegar)
- gelatin
- anchovy filets (the last three in the fridge!)
- marmite (it's super good; fight me)
- soy sauce
- paprika
- garlic
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- butter
- eggs
- parsley
- salt
- pepper
- ketchup
- light brown sugar
- apple cider vinegar
Groceries I had to buy...
- bread ($1.99/loaf)
- cremini mushrooms ($2.49/package)
- ground pork (.85lb* @ $5.99/lb = $5.09) (*I weighed out 12oz only and saved the rest for the Imperial Rolls I made for this week's lunches)
- ground beef (1.25lb @ $5.19/lb = $6.49)
- cheddar ($2.69/brick)
Total monies spent for the entire recipe: $18.75
Total monies spent for each of these 8 portions....
$2.34 per portion.
Cooking!
This is a PROCESS but it is so worth it: blooming the gelatin, making the fresh bread crumbs, making what I think of as the "umamibomb paste" (anchovies, soy sauce, marmite, garlic, and paprika, oh my!), resting the meat, inverting the loaf, revealing the loaf, glazing it three times.... It is a labor of love. Love. Love.
Here's the full experience...
Yes, there were some crusty bits on the foil after I - with tears in my eyes - packed this into the freezer. Yes, I peeled every little crusty bit up and ate them all with my fingers. Consolation prize for having to wait to enjoy the full portions.
