Turkey Meatloaf with Tuscan Herb Olive Oil and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar Glaze

This meatloaf packs a basket of veggies but the nice balance of flavors from the balsamic glaze had the kids asking for seconds. Our Olive This! Tuscan Herb olive oil had all the flavors infused so we didn’t need to add any dried herbs separately. We did our own take on a Food Network recipe adapted by the UC Irvine Medical Student Wellness group.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE MEATLOAF

• 2 tablespoons Olive This! Tuscan Herb Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 small zucchini, finely diced
• 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 cup panko (coarse Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated or shredded Romano or Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Olive This! Traditional Balsamic Vinegar

FOR THE GLAZE

• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup Olive This! Traditional Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  Heat the oil in a large saute pan over high heat.

Add the zucchini, bell peppers, garlic and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are almost soft, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Whisk the egg.  In a large bowl add the egg to the turkey, panko, cheese, ½ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and the cooled vegetables; mix until just combined.

Gently press the mixture into a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Whisk the remaining ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Brush the mixture over the entire loaf. (You may have some extra glaze left over so don’t worry if you can’t make the entire amount).

Bake for 1 to 1¼ hours. Plan for more time if you use turkey that is less than 90% lean – the extra moisture seems to take longer to cook.

Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.  Serve and enjoy!

MAKES ONE 9” x 5” LOAF

Have a comment? We’d love to hear from you. Have you tried this dish? Do you have a variation that you think others will enjoy? Leave us a comment below.