From Scratch

This is a make-life-simple recipe. It’s not haute cuisine by any means but it is comfort food with a twist or two.

The simplicity comes from its preparation in a microwave; the twists are a combination of spicy flavors more often associated with Tex-Mex and then making it into fast-cooking individual meatloaves.

It’s quick and easy as can be and, as with any meatloaf, it can be adapted to your own tastes. Spicy is how it came to me and I happen to love spice and find the amounts here to be flavor, not heat. Your palate might differ. 

It’s a recipe I’ve used for years but began tinkering with a while back when I switched to extra-lean ground sirloin. The problem, when not using fattier ground chuck, was dry meatloaves. I tried several things, from an extra egg to adding dairy, but the solution I like best is to add some chopped mushrooms, sauteed in a little canola oil. They bring their built-in moisture to the dish, while adding texture and a taste more compatible with the seasonings, but without adding cholesterol or many calories.

In keeping with the fast and simple theme, don’t hesitate to get the mushrooms from a salad bar — cleaned, sliced, ready to chop and only the small amount needed.

Mini Microwave Meatloaves

1 pound ground sirloin
1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal
1 large egg
1/2 cup chopped, sauteed mushrooms
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce, divided
1 4-ounce can diced green chiles,divided
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1 TB minced onion (dried) or 1 small onion, diced
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cayenne or 1/2 of a fresh hot pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
a few drops of Tabasco sauce

Mix together the ground meat, oatmeal, egg, mushrooms, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 3 TB green chilies, garlic, onion, chili powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Shape into 4 loaves, approximately 4″ by 2 1/2″ each. Place in microwavable pie plate or shallow casserole dish (8×8 works well) and microwave on high 6 - 10 minutes. (see note below) If using a microwave without a carousel, rotate dish 1/4 turn every 2 minutes.

Remove and set aside to rest. Combine remaining tomato sauce, remaining chiles and Tabasco sauce to taste and microwave on high for 1 -2 minutes.

Spoon over loaves before serving.
Serves 4

Ella’s note - I wish I could be more specific about the time but, of course, it depends on the size of your loaves and your microwave. When I have made 4 that are all exactly the same weight, they need 7 1/2 minutes in my 700-watt microwave. If I’ve used mushrooms, they need about 30 seconds more. I will often make 3 small and 1 large (6-7 ounces) either because Mr. Knife Skills is here and will eat the large one or because I want to use it for sandwiches the next day. In that case, I remove the small ones when done and give the larger one another 45 - 60 seconds.

Tags: beef, microwave, turkey