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Bushman's Meatloaf

25/1/2014

 
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'I'm making meatloaf again tonight,' I said to Peter. 'The one with the black sesame seeds on top?,' he asked. 'Yep,' I replied. 'Great,' he said, his eyes lighting up. 'That's my favourite and it's a keeper.' Words like that coming from my man are music to this cook's ears.

We're not always singing from the same page of the hymn book, or reading from the same cook book, if you know what I mean. There are many days when our taste buds just aren't aligned. For example, Peter might be hankering for me to make Vietnamese lemongrass and chilli chicken, whereas I would be happier with steak and mushrooms. Or I feel like eating Angel hair pasta with salmon and ricotta, but Peter would prefer pork piccata. Usually there's a playful 'It's not always about you' discussion and then we strike a happy medium, where I will cook one of the dishes that night and the other dish the following evening. That way everyone is happy. 

There is always good quality minced meat in our freezer. We buy it in bulk and then separate it into 500g packages, which are perfect for making meals such as lamb burgers, meatballs with spaghetti, chilli con carne, or stuffed aubergines. 

The recipe I'm sharing with you today is one that has been on my repertoire since the early 90s, when it was given to my by the owner of a cafe in Bungendore, New South Wales. Since then, I've changed it to suit my family's tastes and it has always been hugely popular. Funnily enough, the first time I made it for Peter was just before Christmas. For some reason, I wasn't sure that he would like it. For starters, it has Worcestershire sauce in it (which he usually won't touch... needless to say I didn't mention that to him), and I thought it may have been a little too 'Aussie' for him. To my absolute delight, he not only liked it, he loved it and is happy for it to feature regularly on the home menu! It's quick, simple and delicious! I hope you and your family will enjoy it too.

The recipe...

BUSHMAN'S MEATLOAF
1kg lean beef mince*
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
6-8 button mushrooms, finely chopped
6-8 cherry tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 egg, lightly whisked
1/2 -1 cup fresh white bread crumbs or rice crumbs+
sea salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons black sesame seeds
olive oil, for the tin

Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Brush or spray the base and sides of a heavy-based loaf tin with olive oil and line the base with baking paper. Combine all of the ingredients (except the sesame seeds) in a deep pyrex bowl. With clean hands, work the ingredients together until they are well mixed. Press the meat into the prepared tin, pat down the top and brush or spray a little olive oil, then sprinkle over the sesame seeds. Bake for 40 minutes or so until well browned. Serves 6-8.

Notes:
* Use good quality minced beef. It should be lean and pure meat. One of the chef's who presented a class at my cooking school years ago pointed out that some unscrupulous butchers actually add water to the mince to add weight to the meat! That's why sometimes when you fry mince meat, the pan fills up with liquid.

+ Those who are gluten intolerant should use rice crumbs instead of bread crumbs.
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Bushman's meatloaf is an Aussie dish...

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Bushman's country...

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So tell me dear readers, are the taste buds aligned in your household? And what's your strategy for making sure that everyone stays satisfied when it comes to mealtime?
Mandy - The Complete Book link
24/1/2014 07:05:18 pm

Can you believe I have never made a meatloaf before. This looks like a fantastic recipe.
Have an awesome Saturday Lizzy.
:-) Mandy xo

Lizzy
24/1/2014 07:15:10 pm

Mandy, wow, really? Well, I hope this might inspire you... it's a great meal for working families... Enjoy and have a lovely weekend xo

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella link
24/1/2014 07:56:00 pm

Hehe it just goes to show what they don't know... ;) Glad that he loved it even though it had Worcestershire sauce in it! Happy Australia Day!

Lizzy
24/1/2014 07:59:27 pm

He he he... so true, Lorraine... in this case, it was worth the challenge! Happy weekend to you too : )

The Food Sage link
24/1/2014 08:47:28 pm

I can beat Mandy … because not only have i not cooked meatloaf before, i've never - ever - eaten it. I know it's silly, but the name has always put me off. HOWever … Lizzy, your recipes have never failed me before, so i might push the boat out and give this a try! Thanks for sharing.

Lizzy
25/1/2014 07:58:46 am

Hi Rachel... I'm not really surprised.... but you know if you use the best and freshest ingredients... and add your own flavours, you can make something really, really, really delicious! Give it a go xo

Liz link
25/1/2014 04:46:31 am

I love, love meatloaf...an my go-to recipe has Worcestershire, too :) Great topping of black sesame seeds...so pretty!

Lizzy
25/1/2014 07:57:55 am

Hi Liz... I actually love meatloaf too... it doesn't have to be plain and uninteresting. Try the sesame seeds... so flavoursome and, yes, pretty. : )

David link
25/1/2014 10:24:43 am

Liz - this meatloaf sounds absolutely amazing. I can't wait to try it! I agree with you about the quality of the beef mince - one of my resolutions this year is to buy the meat grinding attachment for my mixer so I can make my own!

Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:47:06 pm

David, thanks, that is a very good resolution... I meant to mention in my post that my mother ALWAYS ground her own mince (beef, pork etc) with one of those old fashioned meat mincers. I cannot stand poor quality mince, your plan is a really good one!

InTolerant Chef link
25/1/2014 11:17:06 am

Looks great Lizzy, and the sauce is a great way to boost the flavour isn't it! MiddleC and BigJ each cook one night a week, so that tends to leave me free to cook what I want for the other days- win win :)

Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:47:27 pm

Bec, that sounds like the best way to go... wonderful! : )

Eha
25/1/2014 11:29:38 am

Happy Australia Day Liz! Hope things going reasonably for you! Hope to meet your Peter one day - he and I seem to share some similar taste buds :) ! Love meatloaf: be it beef or pork or mix or chicken or [very often these days] turkey!! Have sometimes used the good old Worcestershire but never black sesame seeds - shall try: looks good :) ! Have a good day . . .I'm about to retire to the last day of the 'Tour Down Under', what else can a cycling nut like me do!!!!

Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:50:15 pm

Happy long weekend to you also, Eha, I hope you are feeling brighter!? Peter won't touch mustard of any kind, or relish, or capers... sigh! There are so many really, really good things I could try on him, but he won't hear of it. Hence I was pleased with this one.

Have a wonderful day, cycling from your sofa xo

Eha
25/1/2014 04:32:35 pm

re Peter: hmm :) ! I must admit to loving mustard and my jar of capers always has to be handy :) ! Cycling: lovely, beautiful day, but frustrated at my darling Cadel Evans, after a six day race, coming second by one second!! Ouch!!!

Tania @ The Cook's Pyjamas link
25/1/2014 12:05:35 pm

I'll admit I am in the never made it/never eaten it camp as well. This looks like a good recipe to change that situation. Thanks.

Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:48:10 pm

Gosh Tania, I hadn't realised that so many had never eaten meatloaf. I hope you will give it a try... it's a great meal xo

Celia link
25/1/2014 12:11:37 pm

Lizzy, that looks divine!! I've never used black sesame seeds before. Now I want meatloaf - we've just minced a whole grassfed rump and portioned it for the freezer, so we're good to go! :)

Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:48:59 pm

Perfect timing, Celia... perfect timing... use white sesame seeds instead if you don't have the black ones on hand... your mince sounds divine! I'm making Ai-Ling's pork belly tonight! xox

ela@GrayApron link
25/1/2014 05:00:10 pm

I get it, you use all the best and fresh ingredients...and a little bit of love and you get this amazing loaf. Right, Liz?

Lizzy
25/1/2014 08:08:20 pm

Spot on, Ela... absolutely xo

John @ Kitchen Riffs link
25/1/2014 05:29:01 pm

One of my greatest failings as a cook is I just don't do meatloaf. I really need to, because I like it and do order it sometimes when we're out. But I never make it. I blame my mother! For good reason. ;-) This looks wonderful. Thanks.

Lizzy
25/1/2014 08:08:55 pm

Ah John, I don't see that as a failing... but it would be great if you tried it at home... my recipe is particularly delicious... : )

Hotly Spiced link
25/1/2014 09:34:21 pm

I put Worchestershire sauce in my meatloaf too but that's where the similarities end. This is a much better recipe and I love how it has cherry tomatoes and mushrooms in it too. And my naturopath says black sesame seeds are very good for you! xx

Lizzy
26/1/2014 01:30:11 pm

Thanks Charlie... this has evolved into something of a shake the fridge dish over the years... the original recipe didn't have anywhere near as much flavour... but we love it! Glad to hear the news on black sesame seeds! : )

Maureen | Orgasmic Chef link
26/1/2014 10:32:34 am

John doesn't like meatloaf - or so he says. I made one recently and with his father here he felt he had to at least try it. He ate the whole thing and went back for seconds.

I'm going to try yours and see if I can get a double winner :)

Lizzy
26/1/2014 01:30:38 pm

Oh, I hope so, Maureen... it is a cracker of a recipe, for meatloaf!

Krissie - Pearls of Style link
26/1/2014 12:14:21 pm

Great to see such an iconic dish with an Aussie twist for our national day!

Lizzy
26/1/2014 01:30:51 pm

Thank you.

kellie@foodtoglow link
27/1/2014 12:13:50 am

Lovely, homey comfort food. My mother made a similar meatloaf and I liked it best cold, in a sandwich! What a weird kid :D You and Peter are too funny with your yin and yang food desires. Sounds like you have worked out a happy medium.

Lizzy
27/1/2014 07:47:17 am

Thank you Kellie... this one is really good eaten cold in a sandwich the next day, too. I like the term yin and yang food desires. : )

Rosa link
27/1/2014 12:39:53 am

So scrumptious looking! A good hearty dish.

Cheers,

Rosa

Lizzy
27/1/2014 07:47:30 am

Thank you Rosa : )

Kim | a little lunch link
27/1/2014 12:43:13 am

Liz, I like how you strike a happy compromise in the kitchen. We do the same -- or I sometimes cook what we both want and then I don't have to cook the next night. ;) Your Bushman's Meatloaf looks fantastic! I'd have to put the sesame seeds on my half (hubby doesn't care for them) and harmony will continue to reign at the dinner table. Enjoy your Australia Day celebration!

Lizzy
27/1/2014 07:48:02 am

Hi Kim, see, you know how it works too... cook is happy, as is the rest of the family xo

Karen S Burns-Booth link
27/1/2014 01:11:10 am

JUST fabulous Lizzy and a belated Happy Australia Day to you too - what a FABULOUS recipe (and name) to celebrate all that is wonderful about Down Under! Karen

Lizzy
27/1/2014 07:48:24 am

Thank you kindly Karen... : )

Donalyn@TheCreeksideCook link
27/1/2014 08:16:14 am

Our tastes usually do align perfectly - my husband likes everything I make. I've asked him if he ever wishes I had made something else and he insists he is never disappointed. I couldn't stand to have someone else decide what I eat all the time, but he likes it!

Lizzy
27/1/2014 08:39:40 am

How wonderful! I like to ask my Peter what he'd like, because for a long time I made the decisions, forgetting that he can and does cook very well. Thank you for stopping by : )

Eva Taylor link
27/1/2014 09:42:23 am

Fortunately for me, JT is pretty easy going and will agree to almost anything I want to cook. Meatloaf isn't really something either of us enjoy so it wouldn't even cross my mind to make it, but I know many people who absolutely love it so I'll share your recipe with them!

Lizzy
27/1/2014 10:06:53 am

Thank you Eva, that's very kind. Do you ever make rissoles or hamburgers? Just curious. : )

e / dig in hobart link
27/1/2014 09:47:51 am

it's great to have reliable dishes like this - reliable flavours and reliably liked by all members of the household!
i must say, i have an easy out - as it's just me, there's never usually any disagreements or compromises over what i'm cooking for me! :-)

Lizzy
27/1/2014 10:06:27 am

LOL, that's the way to go, isn't it! : )

Krista Bjorn link
27/1/2014 05:12:41 pm

This sounds absolutely fantastic!! I love the sesame seeds on top. :-) Meatloaf is so comforting, isn't it? :-)

Lizzy
2/2/2014 03:11:09 pm

Krista, thank you very much, it certainly is! : )

Kiran @ KiranTarun.com link
30/1/2014 07:38:22 am

I've never had meatloaf before, but I can see how many would love it from your recipe :)

Lizzy
2/2/2014 03:10:46 pm

Kiran, thank you kindly : )

Glenda @ Healthy Stories link
30/1/2014 11:24:26 am

This looks absolutely delicious. I keep saying I should make meatloaf again, but never do it. As soon as it cools down a bit I will definitely give this one a go.

Lizzy
2/2/2014 03:10:22 pm

Glenda, welcome to Good Things... and thank you so much!

Karen (Back Road Journal) link
2/2/2014 11:15:13 am

Your opening about how sometimes you and your husband are on a different wavelength made me smile. That happened to us this evening. I was thinking a little healthy, my husband a little indulgent…he won, of course. I know we would both love your meatloaf. I can't wait to try it. :)

Lizzy
2/2/2014 03:09:58 pm

Karen, you made me smile... it's funny how our appetites are teased by fantasies of certain foods for the evening meals and yet the other half wants to eat something completely different! I hope you will like this meatloaf : )

Fiona Wholohan
2/2/2014 02:54:48 pm

This is a great recipe Liz. I've been meaning to try a meatloaf recipe for ages and this fits the bill. I made it yesterday to have cold today for lunch after a hot and sweaty morning putting nets out in the vineyard. It went down a treat wrapped in some pita bread with lettuce, strips of carrot and cucumber and a dash of tabasco. Yum.

Lizzy
2/2/2014 03:08:46 pm

Thanks so much, Fiona! I do appreciate this feedback. Peter and I enjoy this one cold, too. Really, it's a keeper : )

My Kitchen Stories link
8/5/2014 08:06:17 pm

Looks like a few meatloafs coming up around town. My sister just asked for a meat loaf recipe Ill have to send her here.!

Lizzy
8/5/2014 08:13:11 pm

Thank you very kindly! xox


Comments are closed.

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    Photo of Liz Posmyk, Food Writer, Cook and Traveller

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