Who knew meatloaf wasn’t just the invention of thrifty housewives during the Great Depression? It turns out the idea of mixing meat with a tenderizing filler traces back to the fourth or fifth century AD, when the Roman cookbook Apicius presented a recipe for patties made of chopped meat, bread, and wine. But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that American meatloaf was born, inspired by recipes offered by manufacturers of the newly invented meat grinder.
The Depression only increased meatloaf’s popularity, along with developments in food manufacturing that produced flavorful, inexpensive mix-ins like mustard and bouillon. In the 1940s, World War II rationing spawned meat-free loaves, whereas postwar creativity in the 1950s and ’60s produced the likes of Bacon-Dill Meatloaf and Spicy Peach Loaf (Good Housekeeping Cook Book, 1955). In the 1970s and ’80s, veal, pork, and beef “meatloaf mix” came into vogue, elevating the dish to dinner party-worthy status. In the 1990s, restaurateurs marketed upscale versions, and today, innovations continue as loaves are stuffed, wrapped, or laced with international flavors.
3 slices white bread, torn into small pieces
1/2 cup beef stock
2 large portobello mushrooms (about 6 ounces), cut into chunks
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1 medium carrot, cut into chunks
1 celery rib, cut into chunks
3 garlic cloves, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/4 pounds ground beef
3/4 pound ground pork
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
GLAZE:
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine bread and stock; let stand until liquid is absorbed.
Meanwhile, pulse mushrooms, onion, carrot, celery and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add mushroom mixture; cook and stir until tender and liquid is evaporated, 5-6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute longer. Cool slightly.
Add next seven ingredients and cooked vegetables to bread mixture; mix thoroughly. Place a 12x7-in. piece of foil on a rack in a foil-lined rimmed baking pan. Transfer meat mixture to the foil and shape into a 10x6-in. loaf.
Bake 1 hour. Mix together glaze ingredients; spread over loaf. Bake until a thermometer reads 160°, about 15-25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
The Depression only increased meatloaf’s popularity, along with developments in food manufacturing that produced flavorful, inexpensive mix-ins like mustard and bouillon. In the 1940s, World War II rationing spawned meat-free loaves, whereas postwar creativity in the 1950s and ’60s produced the likes of Bacon-Dill Meatloaf and Spicy Peach Loaf (Good Housekeeping Cook Book, 1955). In the 1970s and ’80s, veal, pork, and beef “meatloaf mix” came into vogue, elevating the dish to dinner party-worthy status. In the 1990s, restaurateurs marketed upscale versions, and today, innovations continue as loaves are stuffed, wrapped, or laced with international flavors.
3 slices white bread, torn into small pieces
1/2 cup beef stock
2 large portobello mushrooms (about 6 ounces), cut into chunks
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1 medium carrot, cut into chunks
1 celery rib, cut into chunks
3 garlic cloves, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/4 pounds ground beef
3/4 pound ground pork
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
GLAZE:
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine bread and stock; let stand until liquid is absorbed.
Meanwhile, pulse mushrooms, onion, carrot, celery and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add mushroom mixture; cook and stir until tender and liquid is evaporated, 5-6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute longer. Cool slightly.
Add next seven ingredients and cooked vegetables to bread mixture; mix thoroughly. Place a 12x7-in. piece of foil on a rack in a foil-lined rimmed baking pan. Transfer meat mixture to the foil and shape into a 10x6-in. loaf.
Bake 1 hour. Mix together glaze ingredients; spread over loaf. Bake until a thermometer reads 160°, about 15-25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
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