Meatloaf with Creamy Mushroom Gravy
Once you've removed the meatloaf from the oven and are letting it rest, you can heat ready-made mashed potatoes, your choice of steam-in-the-bag microwave vegetables, and the mushroom gravy in the microwave.
INGREDIENTS | SERVES 8
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- ½ cup carrots, peeled and grated
- 8 ounces fresh button or cremini mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
- ¼ cup dry red wine
- ½ cup fine breadcrumbs
- ½ cup milk
- ¾ pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound lean ground pork
- ¼ pound mild Italian sausage
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon freeze-dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- OPTIONAL: Worcestershire sauce
- 1 10-ounce jar beef-mushroom gravy
Preheat oven to 350 °F.
Put the oil, butter, garlic, onion, celery, carrot, and mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Uncover and stir; repeat at 30-second intervals until the onions are transparent.
Add the red wine, breadcrumbs, and milk; cover and wait for 10 minutes or until the crumbs absorb the moisture in the bowl.
Mix in the beef, pork, sausage, egg, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pack the mixture into a loaf pan. Brush the top of the meatloaf with Worcestershire sauce, if desired.
Cover the loaf pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center of the meatloaf registers at least 165 °F. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
While the meatloaf is resting, warm the gravy in a saucepan or in the microwave. Serve with the gravy spooned over the top of the meatloaf or serve on the side in a warmed gravy boat.
Crumb Wisdom
The amount of moisture that remains in the bowl after you microwave the vegetables and mushrooms can affect the amount of breadcrumbs needed. If, after mixing, the mixture is too wet to form some of it in a ball that will hold its shape, add more breadcrumbs.
