Monday, January 6, 2014

Southwestern Style Meatloaf -- Wheat-free & Low Carb

This evening we are experiencing absolutely frigid temps here in the Atlanta area. It's 15 degrees outside now with a wind chill of 1 degree. Our morning temps are expected to be 4 or 5 degrees with wind chills of -5 to -15. I know that is cold for most people but it's almost obscenely cold for the Atlanta area! When I got home from work, I wanted comfort food to warm me from the inside out. I had a 2-lb bag of cauliflower florets that I dumped into a pot along with chicken broth and began making my Rich and Thick Parmesan Cauliflower Mash. It is rich and thick and oh so comforting. While the cauliflower cooked, I put together the speediest and tastiest meatloaf you can imagine. I had a package of ground sirloin that I mixed with some medium-hot "garden fresh salsa" (bought in the refrigerated section). I prefer using fresh salsa because the flavors are so much brighter than jarred salsas which are good, but kind of like stewed tomatoes. The fresh salsa makes me go MMMMMMM...while the jarred salsa just makes me go mmmmmmm. This meatloaf was so simple to make that it might make you cry just a little. When I make my regular Mexican style meatloaf, I usually dice onions, peppers, etc. and add egg and a little salsa (occasionally a little flax as a binder substitute in place of bread crumbs). But this evening I decided to kick it up a notch. My meatloaf consisted of ground sirloin, fresh salsa, smoked paprika, roasted cumin, a touch of salt and pepper...and you know what I used as my binder??? Pepper-jack cheese...yes, shredded pepper-jack cheese. It turned out AMAZING! Not only did it add flavor, it kept the meatloaf extremely tender and moist without becoming a solid brick of meat as it baked. Instead of adding the obligatory ketchup or tomato sauce on top, I spooned a little salsa over the top before baking it. Right before I removed it from the oven, I added some additional shredded pepper-jack cheese to the top and let it melt. I served the meatloaf along with my Parmesan Cauliflower Mash and green beans with toasted almonds. It was the best comfort meal I could hope for on this bitter cold night. I snapped a few photos below as well as the easy peasy meatloaf recipe. Using fresh salsa adds the flavor of fresh tomatoes, jalapenos and onions so there is no chopping any veggies involved. Just dump, mix, pat and bake. I used a medium-hot salsa that added a little zip, too. Enjoy!




Ready for the oven
Fresh out of the oven
Dessert: Greek yogurt swirled with Cranberry Orange Coconut Sauce

Southwestern Style Meatloaf
Approximately 4 servings

Ingredients:

1-1/4 pounds ground sirloin (or preferred ground beef, chicken or turkey)
1/2 to 3/4 cup salsa, plus couple extra tablespoons for top of meatloaf (I use fresh style salsa)
1/2 teaspoon cumin (I used roasted cumin)
1/4 teaspoon paprika (I used smoked paprika)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded Pepper-jack cheese (or Monterey Jack)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Add all ingredients to a medium bowl (reserving a couple tablespoons of salsa for top of meatloaf) and mix just until combined; don't over mix. Pat loaf into a shallow baking pan or casserole. Spread reserved salsa on top of meatloaf. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 1 hour, or until desired doneness. Top with additional shredded cheese, if desired. Let sit about 5 to 10 minutes so juices settle. Slice and serve.

20 comments:

Laura Cagg said...

Can't wait to try it seeing as all the recipes I have tried from your page are amazing.

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Thanks, Laura -- I hope you enjoy it! :-)

CyberSis said...

Hi GGC,

Anyway you slice it ... MMMMMMMM!

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

LOL, CyberSis -- sometimes I look back at some of the silly things I write and it makes me shake my OWN head...haha! :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I'm just starting my "Wheat Belly" Journey & I have to say your website and recipes have inspired me the most! Thanks so much for sharing! Making some Cauliflower Mash for my family tonight too!

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi there -- Thank you. Congratulations on beginning your Wheat Belly journey and I am happy you feel inspired. Hope you enjoy the Cauliflower Mash, too! The key to making it thick like mashed potatoes is to cook all the liquid out of it (careful not to burn it). Then add your cream, cheese, etc. Welcome to the "wheatless" side of the tracks! :-)

Anonymous said...

My Dear GGC,
I can't thank you enough for your wonderful blog! My husband and I, in our early 60's, have been grain-free for 18 months now, following Dr. Davis' Wheat Belly diet, and we are now embarking on the related recommendations from Dr. Perlmutter's Grain Brain. My husband lost 40+ pounds and has been able to discontinue decades worth of medications for hypertension, high cholesterol, GERD, and gout. I do most of our cooking but am not a natural cook, pretty much hopeless without a recipe - we absolutely could not have continued this diet over 18 months without your help! You provide such marvelous grain-free recipes, but it's your comments and tips on techniques, processes, and products, and the photos, that truly keep me going. Our adult son, who is not a grain-free convert (yet), joins us on weekends for dinner and has never been disappointed with a meal from your blog (and usually takes home any leftovers-LOL). Even our dog Charlie looks forward to his GGC tidbits! Many, many thanks for helping us improve our lives!!

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Oh my...thank you SO much for the kind words. I am happy more than you know that you enjoy my blog, recipes and sometimes silly "chatter". Most of all I am glad the recipes have helped you and your husband and that your non wheat-free son does too (both of my sons and my daughter are in the same situation as your son...they aren't grain free either, but they come back every weekend to eat)! I am even happy "Charlie" enjoys his tidbits. I know there are many bloggers that blog for a living -- and there is NOTHING wrong with that whatsoever...but I do this because I LOVE it...period. Thanks for letting me know how much you appreciate my work -- it means a lot to me. :-)

CyberSis said...

Hi GGC,

"Here-here" to what Anonymous said! Your marvelous recipes and stunning photos are just part of the story. It's your thoroughly charming commentary that puts the icing on the cake! :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Thank you, CyberSis! That would be the no-sugar added icing on the wheat free cake, right? ;-)

CyberSis said...

Absolutely! :-)

Candy said...

I made this last night and it was delicous. Often make your recipes, you do the thinking, I do the cooking and it helps so much. Thanks for your output Gourmet Girl.

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Candy -- Thank you...so glad you enjoyed the meatloaf -- I finished the last of it for lunch yesterday and just finished my chicken noodle soup for today's lunch. Glad you enjoy the recipes! :-)

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Hi Candy -- Thank you...so glad you enjoyed the meatloaf -- I finished the last of it for lunch yesterday and just finished my chicken noodle soup for today's lunch. Glad you enjoy the recipes! :-)

Anonymous said...

I made this meatloaf and cauliflower mash tonight. Oh my...how delicious. I make the cauliflower mash at least once per week (earlier this week I made green mash using broccoli--it was excellent too!). Thank you, thank you!

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Thanks so much -- so glad you enjoyed the meatloaf and cauliflower mash! Your broccoli mash sounds good, too! :-)

Amber said...

I don't comment very often but I whole heartedly agree with annonymous (posted 1/8/14, 10:07 AM)

Also I love meatloaf and was really looking forward to making this one as I have not had it in awhile. It was absolutely delicious a keeper for sure. Thank you again for all you time and effort in sharing.

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Thanks so much, Amber. I am so happy you liked it and appreciate you letting me know. :-)

Unknown said...

The family loved this. Got rave reviews from the kids which is a nice change of pace. You are my idol. Thank you and please keep these recipes coming.

Gourmet Girl Cooks said...

Thanks so much Màrcelle! I'm so happy your kids enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind words...and yes, I will keep the recipes coming! :-)