Serves: 6 to 8
Serving size: 4 ounces
Calories per serving: 234
Meat loaf is one of the best comfort foods of all time. In my version, I have swapped out ground beef for lean ground turkey. The shiitake mushrooms add a woodsy and robust flavor that marries nicely with the ground turkey. You can use portobello, cremini, or trumpet mushrooms instead of shiitakes. I turned to Swiss cheese for this recipe not only because of its mild, nutty flavor, but because it is one of the healthiest cheeses and is also available in low-fat and low-sodium versions. When you need comfort food, you can’t go wrong with Comfort Meat Loaf.
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for greasing
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup finely chopped shiitake mushrooms
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons low-sodium beef stock
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
¼ cup quick-cooking oats
¾ cup cubed low-fat, low-sodium Swiss cheese
1¼ pounds ground turkey breast, 99% fat-free
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Lightly oil a rimmed parchment-lined baking sheet or a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook for about 10 minutes. Transfer the mushroom mixture to a bowl.
Add Worcestershire, beef stock, black pepper, fresh herbs, eggs, oats, and cheese to the mushroom mixture. Using your fingers, add the ground turkey and gently mix all the ingredients together to incorporate fully. The mixture will be wet, which will result in a moist meat loaf.
Form the meat loaf into a 9-by-5-inch oval, shaped like a football, and place it in the middle of the prepared pan.
Bake the meat loaf for about 45 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 170ºF. Let the meat loaf stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.