My Meatloaf Recipe from the 1770 House

My good friend, Ina Garten, has popularized my meatloaf recipe that I made at the 1770 House in East Hampton, NY. We have made it together on her show, The Barefoot Contessa. It should feed six to eight people with additional sides and perhaps a salad to start the meal. Please enjoy my meatloaf recipe from the 1770 House. You can catch a video demo here on The Barefoot Contessa.

To Begin:

1 pound ground veal (preferably naturally raised)
1 pound ground pork (preferably naturally raised Berkshire)
1 pound ground beef chuck (preferably naturally raised)
1 tablespoon chopped, fresh chives, plus 1 teaspoon for the sauce
1 tablespoon chopped, fresh thyme leaves, plus 1 teaspoon for the sauce
1 tablespoon chopped, fresh Italian parsley, plus 1 teaspoon for the sauce
3 large eggs (preferably organic)
1 1/3 cups finely ground Panko bread crumbs
2/3 cup whole milk (preferably hormone and antibiotic free)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
2 stalks of celery finely diced
1 large Spanish onion finely diced
2 cups chicken or beef stock**
8 to 10 cloves roasted garlic
3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the veal, pork, beef, chives, thyme, parsley, eggs, Panko, milk, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl.

Heat a medium pan over medium-high heat and film it with extra-virgin olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the celery and onion to the pan and cook, stirring, until softened. Remove the celery and onion from the pan and let cool. When the mixture is cool, add it to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.

Using clean hands, mix the ingredients until well combined and everything is evenly distributed. Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan (it should have sides at least 1 1/2 inches high to prevent grease runoff from the pan). Place the meat on the sheet pan and pat it and punch it down to remove any air pockets. Shape the meat into a loaf (about 14 1/2 inches long by 5 inches wide by 2 inches high). Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes or until a meat thermometer indicates an internal temperature of 155 to 160 degrees. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, for the sauce, combine the broth, roasted garlic and butter over medium-high heat and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly thickened. Add 1 teaspoon of each of the chopped thyme, chives, and parsley. Slice the meatloaf into serving portions and spoon the hot sauce over the meatloaf and serve.

**Using a robust and, ideally, a homemade stock will enhance this dish and result in a more flavorful sauce.

2011-2016, Kevin Penner, All Rights Reserved