The Infamous Original Meat Cakes Recipe

A Portland-Style Mini Meatloaf

Featured in The Bluebell Detective Agency by Mo Montgomery

Despite Tim’s very strong opinions, the Meat Cakes truck isn’t out to get him or anyone else anything but yummy little meatloaves. These individual meatloaves are rich, savory, and best enjoyed while seated indoors and nowhere near the middle of traffic.

Makes: 6–8 mini meatloaves

Ingredients (Use organic, locally grown produce if possible. Find your nearest portlandfarmersmarket.org if located in the Portland, Oregon metro area)

Meatloaf

·         1 lb grass-fed ground beef (or a beef/pork blend, or Impossible ground beef)

·         ½ cup finely diced cremini mushrooms

·         ½ small yellow onion, finely diced

·         2 cloves garlic, minced

·         ½ cup fresh breadcrumbs (sourdough if you have it)

·         1 egg, lightly beaten

·         ¼ cup whole milk or oat milk

·         1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

·         1 tbsp Dijon mustard (local mustard if available)

·         1 tbsp tomato paste

·         1 tsp smoked paprika

·         1 tsp fresh thyme, minced (or ½ tsp dried)

·         Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

·         Olive oil

Glaze

·         ⅓ cup ketchup

·         1½ tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar

·         1 tsp apple cider vinegar

·         1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1.      Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a muffin tin or small ramekins with olive oil.

2.      Sauté the vegetables.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and mushrooms and cook until softened and lightly golden. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

3.      Mix gently.
In a large bowl, combine meat, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire, mustard, tomato paste, smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the cooled vegetable mixture. Mix just until combined—overmixing makes tough meatloaf, and we are not monsters.

4.      Shape the Meat Cakes.
Divide the mixture evenly into the muffin tin or ramekins, gently pressing but not packing too tightly.

5.      Make the glaze. Stir all glaze ingredients together and spoon generously over each mini meatloaf.

6.      Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly caramelized on top.

7.      Rest briefly before serving. This is not optional. Even Meat Cakes deserve a moment.

Portland Touches (Optional, but encouraged)

·         Try your favorite cheese grated on top for more flavor

·         Serve with stone-ground mustard or a local hot sauce or BBQ sauce

·         Pair with roasted root vegetables or a simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette

·         Add a tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce to the main mixture or the glaze

 Don’t hesitate to try your own version of these loaves from Meat Cakes: Thanksgiving loaf (use ground turkey or ground pork instead of beef, stuffing mix instead of breadcrumbs, top with mashed potatoes, and turkey gravy instead of cranberry glaze) or their crab mac and cheese loaves which is simply crab mac and cheese cooked in a mini loaf pan. Use Tillamook shredded cheese and Dungeness crab for a taste of Oregon. Top with breadcrumbs and butter.