Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Tex-Mex Meat Loaf with A Chipotle-Tomato Glaze


I attempt to write my menu plan based on the sales in the store, but I always allow myself to pick a few recipes that I simply just want to make.  Lately what I want is pretty much anything from The Homesick Texan cookbook.  It's my go-to cookbook for the moment.    

I have a favorite recipe for your classic everyday meat loaf, but this recipe for Tex-Mex Meat Loaf with Chipotle-Tomato Glaze has been calling to me ever since I first laid eyes on it.  I blame it all on the chorizo.  The idea of adding chorizo to meat loaf was completely intriguing to me. 

This meat loaf is dense in texture, packed with lots of flavor (chorizo, cilantro, onions, garlic, cumin, and oregano), and topped with a glaze that is spicy from the chipotle and slightly tangy from the lime.  It's not your everyday meat loaf.  It's meat loaf with a punch of flavor.  My husband who loves all these ingredients separately, did not love this meat loaf.  He said he preferred a normal old-fashioned meat loaf to this recipe.  I have to agree with him.  I certainly appreciated and enjoyed all the flavors in this recipe, but I think I prefer a simple old-fashioned meat loaf best.
  





Tex-Mex Meat Loaf with A Chipotle-Tomato Glaze
Adapted from The Homesick Texan by Lisa Fain
Serves 10-12

For the Chipotle-Tomato Glaze:
1 cup crushed canned tomatoes, preferable fire roasted
1/2 or 1 canned chipotle chile in adobo (depending on how much heat you like)
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 -3 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper, to taste

For the Meat Loaf:
1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 medium yellow onion, finely diced
4 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 pound Mexican chorizo, removed from casing
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 large eggs
1 cup finely ground crackers or tortilla chips (or a combo of the two)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a large baking sheet with foil.  Butter or grease the foil so the meat loaf does not stick.

To make the chipotle-tomato glaze, in a blender, puree until smooth the crushed tomatoes, chipotle chiles, lime juice, and garlic.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

To make the meat loaf, heat the oil in a skillet on medium-low heat, and add the onion.  Cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.  

Slide the cooked onions and garlic into a large bowl.  Add to the bowl the ground beef, the chorizo, cilantro, eggs, ground crackers (I used Ritz) or tortilla chips, oregano, cumin, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and salt.  With your hands, gently mix all ingredients until well combined.

Take the meat and form it into a loaf.  Place it on the sheet and take half of the chipotle-tomato glaze and spread it on top of the meat loaf.  Place meat loaf in the oven and bake for 50 minutes.  Remove from the oven, spread the remaining chipotle-tomato glaze on top, and place back in the oven for about 10 more minutes.  Let the cooked meat loaf sit for 15 minutes and then slice with a serrated knife and serve.
 

24 comments:

  1. I'm a recent convert to the chipotle tomato glaze. Adds an extra oomph. A perfect winter meal filled with satisfaction.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kim, I have a favourite meat loaf recipe too (Bobby Flay's), but I would have definitely been tempted to make this. It does sound and look really good (love the steam coming off the meat loaf in the first pic), sorry it didn't live up to your expectations. I guess I'll stick to my favourite one too then. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Meat loaf is really good, especially in a cold winter day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love meatloaf and I am attracted to every ingredient in there. Even though you said it wasn't as good as regular I'm still curious enough about the taste to probably make it maybe just a smaller version. It just sounds so good!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I do love all of the goodies that go into this, but there's just something so comforting that I wouldn't want to change about "regular" meatloaf, either. I wouldn't turn it away, though ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mmm...chipotles make everything awesome. I can also see not wanting to alter a favorite comfort food, but it sure looks yummy :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looks very yummy. Now I am going to have to go and buy the ingredients to make and see if it tastes as good as it looks.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey! I can comment again! Sorry this wasn't a hit. It sure sounds good--and like something we'd like here. Chipotle glaze? Um, yeah! But I guess sometimes the classics are hard to beat.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aww so sad this wasn't a hit! It really sounds like all the flavors should work together amazingly. But maybe meatloaf is one of those things where when you want it...you just want that good old comforting version that you love. no frills.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks fabulous. Earlier this week I made a meatloaf that Barbara at Movable Feasts posted and it was delicious, but my family was disappointed as they were expecting their meatloaf for dinner. So in the future when I make a new meatloaf recipe and they ask whats for dinner, I'm just going to tell them we are having meat pie.
    Mimi

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the traditional meatloaf too, but the flavors in this meatloaf sound amazing. I think our taste buds get trained to expect certain flavors from certain foods. For example, I still can't bring myself to eat a Mexican type pizza, even though I love the flavors; my taste buds want good old Italian style pizza when I tell them it is pizza...lol

    ReplyDelete
  12. This meatloaf sounds like it was full of flavor, too bad you didn't care for it. I like the old fashion kind of meatloaf too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the pictures!!! It looks so comforting and delicious,Kim! Great flavors.

    ReplyDelete
  14. YAY! i can comment on your blog again! my finicky computer is cooperating!

    isn't it funny how sometimes simple wins, especially when it comes to traditional staples like meatloaf. I can hear my husband saying the same thing. this sure looks fun though, and once again, it reminds me that i have GOT to get my hands on that cookbook :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. This just made it on my "absolutely must try very very soon list" in 3 seconds flat.

    ReplyDelete
  16. First, love the photo with all the steam coming out. I love it when that happens on camera! I have this cookbook, and have been reading it and enjoying her stories. I had bookmarked this recipe, and it's a shame it didn't impress you as much as you had hoped. Um, I don't like chorizo. Not sure why, but I can't appreciate it as much as my son-- who adores it. So, if I make this, I'll have to see if I can tweak some things. I like the idea of a Southwestern flair to meatloaf. I do make a mean meatloaf, which my husband loves!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Any recipe with chipotle chills included immediately catches my attention, but wow, I've never thought of it in meatloaf! What a bite it must add to the flavor!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You may me want to pull out my Homesick Texan Cookbook again. ;-) This meatloaf looks so flavorful and good--it would be a nice change of pace on occasion from the classic. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I made this recipe tonight with some fantastic local artesian Chorizo and served it between texas bread with a side of cream cheese garlic spinach mashed potatos. I question pigs flying but I know they smile

    ReplyDelete
  20. My family loves thus meatloaf! Perfect Tex-mex flavors. I made with crushed tortilla chips.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment! At the moment I am having a huge problem with spam so I've had to add comment moderation and close off comments to anonymous users. I apologize for the trouble and hope to return my comments to normal shortly.