Mad About “Meat” Loaf

Name: Mad About "Meat" Loaf
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided; 2/3 cup mashed cooked carrots; 1 slice whole wheat bread, torn into pieces; 2 large Nellie’s Free Range Eggs, lightly beaten; 1/2 cup grated zucchini; 1/2 cup tomato sauce, divided; 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/4 cup finely chopped onion; 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed; 3 tablespoons ground walnuts; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon dried sage leaves; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Meat loaf will be wearing new accessories this year - spinach, carrots, zucchini and whole grains. Grind the nuts in a food processor but be sure to add a little flour so you don't end up with nut butter. —Susan Preston, Eagle Creek, Oregon

Ingredients

1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2/3 cup mashed cooked carrots
1 slice whole wheat bread, torn into pieces
2 large Nellie’s Free Range Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup tomato sauce, divided
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
3 tablespoons ground walnuts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried sage leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add spinach; cover and boil for 3-4 minutes or until wilted. Drain and squeeze dry.
In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, carrots, bread, eggs, zucchini, 1/4 cup tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, onion, flaxseed, walnuts, oil, garlic, seasonings and spinach. Pat into a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan; top with remaining tomato sauce.
Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake 4-7 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 198 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 451mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 11g protein.

Originally published as Mad About Meatloaf in Taste of Home February/March 2012

Reviews

My Review

Click stars to rate

Average Rating:

NeonDials

Nov 10, 2015

Wow! Made this for Meatless Monday and it's a winner. Great ingredients, easy to put together, tasty results. I followed the recipe verbatim and will definitely make it again.
LegalSec

Oct 6, 2014

Great! You would think it was made with meat. I changed a few things but tried to stick close to the ingredients I changed. I did not use the cheddar or parmesan cheeses. I subbed butternut squash for the mashed carrots. I used 1/4 cup of egg whites, I omitted the walnuts and used 3 tbsp. of bulgur soaked in water to soften up. Thanks for a great alternative from using ground beef or ground turkey. May never go back to "meat" meatloaf again.
LSODDancerMom

Oct 6, 2014

Terrific! I loved this recipe. My husband couldn't believe there was no meat! My vegetarian teenager liked it, too!
melhiester

Jan 31, 2013

Made this and my 3 kids loved it. Even my husband had no idea that it didn't have any meat in it. Will definitely make again! Delicious.
redsugar

Sep 17, 2012

Wow, eating more of a plant based diet, I missed my favorite dish, Meatloaf! This hit the spot! Perfect in every sense. Texture, taste and smell!! I did edit it a little... here were my edits:*used 5 oz of baby spinach*used Veggies Shreds instead of real cheese (for both the Cheddar and the Parmesan)*used 1 cup of mashed carrots*used 2 slices of HPLC bread from Great Harvest Bread Company*used 1 cup of Zucchini*made my own Italian seasoning (equal parts of, basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, cilantro, thyme and red pepper flakes)*did not sprinkle more cheese on top, and did not put it back in the oven for additional time.
daisey5

Feb 13, 2012

This was very different but good tasting. But it does take a lot of work to make.
Jawm

Feb 7, 2012

This was quite good and filling. We really enjoyed it and will definitely make it again