Spiced with fragrant Moroccan flavours, this Moroccan Meatloaf is a delicious twist on a classic family dinner. It’s easy to make, packed with warm spices, and perfect for a midweek meal that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
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Since our holiday and moving house, I've found it a bit tricky to get back into the groove of grocery shopping, meal planning and actually making different things for dinner.
We've had an awful lot of spag bol, sausages, slow-cooker meals and Mexican since we moved in. I've vowed to be more organised and try to stick to a bit of a plan so I only buy what we need.
Note the word 'try.' I don't think I'll ever be a true meal planner. I can have a rough guide but if if comes to the day I'm meant to have X and I don't feel like it, there will be changes.
The night we were meant to have Moroccan meatloaf I was feeling rather lazy so we ended up with spag bol but the next day I was super organised and whipped this up in the morning.
While it was cooking away in the oven there was a lovely warming smell coming from the kitchen. Some people might balk but I love cinnamon combined with meat. It adds something extra special.
Of course I tweaked the recipe a little, adding less meat and more veges to bulk it up and because I didn't have the 500g the recipe called for.
It was meant to be served with some sort of chutney (which I actually bought but forgot about) but when I smelled it cooking, yoghurt sauce immediately sprung to mind.
I just mixed up a little natural yoghurt with lemon juice (surprise surprise) and dolloped it onto the meaty slices. The flavour combination reminded me of lamb boureks from Mecca Bah - one of my favourites.
Seeing as there were lots of vegetables packed into the juicy loaf, I served mine simply with some roasted sweet potato chips. It was just as good for lunch the next day and I think two slices wedged into a ciabatta would make a pretty tasty lunch too. You can also slice it up and freeze for lazy meals. Enjoy!
What about you? Do you meal plan? Do you stick to it?
Recipe
Moroccan meatloaf
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 350 g 12.5oz lean beef mince
- 1 onion finely chopped
- ½ capsicum finely chopped
- 4 small mushrooms finely chopped
- 1 cup dry breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 free-range egg beaten
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
- salt & pepper
Yoghurt sauce
- ½ cup natural yoghurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- a little lemon zest
- parsley to serve
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C (390F) fan-forced and line a loaf tin with aluminium foil.
- Place all the ingredients for the meat loaf in a large bowl and use your hands (with gloves so you don't get it under your fingernails) to mix it all together.
- Press the mixture into the lined loaf tin and flatten out the top.
- Cover with another sheet of foil.
- Stand the tin in a shallow baking dish and very carefully pour 4cm of boiling water into the dish then put it all in the oven.
- Bake for 70 minutes then remove the foil and drain off any excess liquid then return the loaf to the oven, uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Leave it to rest in the tin for 30 minutes before serving.
- Slices can be frozen individually wrapped.
- To make the sauce, combine all the ingredients.
Nutrition
Aless says
I have X freezers.....so I 'shop the freezers' when it comes to meals. Having been the family cook for over 40 years, I've been heard to whinge (loudly) that having to think about the evening meal EVERY day makes me miserable! When I'm on a run with my sewing passion, stopping to cook is awful!!
Once the kids left home, I was able to loosen up a bit, and I have my 'bad days/emergency' main meals in the freezer- chicken shasliks (supermarket/butcher-very good quality), chicken Kievs, the occasional freezer pack of pies(2 meals there!) etc. I also now buy a roast chook every fortnightly shopping day. Homemade roast vegies in winter(2 nights), shop bought salad in summer(once), and leftover roast chicken meat to make something else creative ..(wraps?) Three cheap meals!! We have our own vegies most of the year, so we eat well there. This style of eating has freed me up to cook creatively on the other nights.
Claire says
Sounds like a perfect plan Aless. How wonderful to have your own veggie garden too! I do the same with a roast chook once a fortnight. There are so many options from the leftover meat.
Stephanie@Henry Happened says
I love yogurt sauce! It's great with any meat in my book.
LeAndra says
I love meatloaf, so I'm really looking forward to trying this out. The use of the spices sounds amazing! And yes, I do meal plan. I try to cook for the week on Sundays, but I tend to run out of leftovers or ideas for Thursday dinner or Friday lunch. I'm working on it though.
Claire says
Oh how I wish I could be that organised to cook on a Sunday!
My Kitchen Stories says
LOL yes funny reading those comments. I dont have a shopping interfere r and wouldnt like it if i did. I am already a very random shopper and cook. What ever suits the sitution and ingredients I have is whats for dinner. I do like meatloaf but never make it. Yours looks like the go Claire
Claire says
I think I'm a mixture of the two Tania. Sometimes I make it all up, sometimes I'm a planner. Depends on the mood!
The Café Sucre Farine says
Claire, you and I are like two peas in a pod. I never have a rigid meal schedule as I'm always moved by this or that whim. Your meat loaf sounds and looks amazing, so unique and delicious!
Claire says
We are indeed Chris!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
The texture looks really interesting and I like the addition of cinnamon to it! I think it would be lovely with lamb too.
Claire says
Lamb would be really good too yes!
Lisa the Gourmet Wog says
never been a meal planner. I don't often know what I'm doing half the day, dinner is always 'depends on' whavevers in the fridge and crisper! Love your meatloaf, so many fab flavours x
Claire says
Ahh yes I know about the 'depends on.'
Carina says
liked the last two comments! Delicious meatloaf (of course it needs the cinnamon), will make it as little treat for myself this w/e. Husband's problem is, it needs to have spoonful of hot red chilli and lots chopped up fresh green ones, too, otherwise it is just me eating this. :):)
Claire says
You could definitely add a load of chili to it to spice things up Carina!
Danielle says
A great twist on a classic, I love cinnamon with meat too, and just about anything. Love your idea to pair the meatloaf with the yoghurt sauce and sweet potato chips.
Like you I try to meal plan but usually fail miserably due to husband interference with the grocery shopping!
Claire says
Oh yes husbands will do that won't they?!
Eha says
. . . sorry: going too fast - 'decade' is meant to read 'century' :D !
Eha says
Lovely recipe: Moroccan is oft on the menu here. Cinnamon, cloves etc methinks are used in many cuisines: I have lately become rather interested in the beautiful flavours used in Burma and there it oft appears in meat dishes . . . I usually make my meatloaves freeform and do not put them in a bain marie . . . also mine seem to be the way I like them at about 35 minutes at 190 C . . . Menu plans: oh yes - having studied nutrition for over 1/4 decade I am so used to having at least a seven day plan to balance all the needed foods and be certain I have everything required at home here in the country : of course cirumstances, time restraints, heaps of friends wandering in at the last minute etc do make one change one's plans :) !
Claire says
I keep meaning to make a free-form meatloaf but always forget! Oh now there's another reason I should be meal-planning.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
John hates meatloaf but he loves anything Middle Eastern - I think I might have found the solution to my meatloaf dilemma. I love it and he hates it. Yay!
Claire says
Hmm I wonder if it will pass the test!
Hotly Spiced says
I'm not a menu planner either. I don't like to plan out a week's worth of meals. It just never works out for us as everyone's plans change swiftly and there's so much coming and going and the numbers keep changing so I find it best to cook one day at at time. Your meatloaf looks very good and I think a yoghurt dressing would be wonderful xx
Claire says
I can imagine it would be rather tricky for you with the teenagers!
Gillian ASHURST says
Yum! Looks so tasty and moist. I always have good intentions about planning meals, but, I feel that cooking according to how you are feeling produces a better meal, with both cook and those eating relaxed and calm! !
Claire says
I have to agree there Gill!