Chipotle Turkey & Quinoa Meatloaf
The following article/recipe was created for my friends over at Happily Ever Borrowed. Happily Ever Borrowed is "the premiere online wedding shop that rents designer bridal accessories worldwide at a fraction of the retail price!" I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes with their wonderful followers on the HEB Blog. This recipe is a must try! Take a look!
Imagine that you are days away from tying the knot. Most married couples will tell you that the days leading up to your wedding can be the most exciting and the most stressful. The anticipation and the anxiety can be overwhelming as all the final details and loose ends are being tied together. All the while, the prospective bride is trying to count calories, worried that her dress may not fit! You and your fiancé need to plan a nice “wedding- plan-free” evening together so that you can take the time to enjoy each other’s company and focus on what’s really important: the joining of two hearts in the name of love!
In my opinion, there’s nothing better than sharing a delicious home cooked meal with your lovey while getting comfy on the couch and watching your favorite flick. How about the first movie you ever saw together? This will help you to reconnect by bringing back those memories of the nervous butterflies you had in your stomach, the giddiness, and the excitement of a new relationship.
My Turkey & Quinoa Chipotle Meatloaf is the perfect recipe for you and your fiancé to share. I love this recipe because it healthy and nutritious while retaining all of the amazing qualities of your favorite comfort food—and besides, the prep work involves getting your hands dirty, which can be fun to do as a couple! Both men and women alike have given this recipe rave reviews. While ground turkey can be dry at times, the addition of Quinoa, an egg and chipotle paste makes it incredibly moist and flavorful. A sweet and spicy Chipotle Brown Sugar Glaze joins with creamy mashed potatoes (or cauliflower if you want to cut calories) in holy matrimony! If offered “seconds” of this dish, your fiancé will certainly shout “I do!”
Turkey Quinoa Chipotle Meatloaf
(This recipe feeds 3-4 people)
Ingredients-
Meatloaf-
1/4 Cup of Organic Quinoa (dry uncooked)
1 Lb Ground Lean Turkey Meat
2 Small Cloves of Fresh Garlic, Minced
2/3 Cup Diced Onion (yellow or white ideally)
2 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 Heaping Tablespoons of Chipotle Adobo Sauce (Buy the can of Goya Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce and use the sauce the peppers are in. You can also cut up one of the peppers to add the the meatloaf if you like things very spicy.
3/4 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme Leaves Finely Chopped (dried works great too)
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Ketchup
2 Egg (lightly beaten)
Sweet Chipotle Glaze
2 Tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar
2 Teaspoons Adobo Sauce (Buy the can of Goya Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce and use the sauce the peppers are in)
2 Teaspoons Ketchup
1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
Steps-
Preheat the oven to 350F
Cook the Quinoa by bringing the Quinoa and about ½ of water to a boil. Allow to simmer stirring occasional until it is tender and expands a little. (About 15 minutes) Put the cooked Quinoa in the fridge to cool.
While the Quinoa is cooling in the fridge, heat up the olive oil in a small pan on low heat and add the garlic and onions.
Cook down the onions and garlic until they soften and start to soften.
Remove the onions from the stove and stir in the Worcestershire, Adobo Sauce, Fresh Thyme, Salt, and Ketchup. Set aside and allow to cool down.
In a medium bowl mix together the ground turkey, cooled quinoa and eggs . It is best to use your hands so the egg is fully incorporated.
Mix in the chipotle and onion mixture. Mix very well with your hands. Set aside
Whisk together the glaze ingredients. Set aside.
Spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. You can also line it with parchment paper and let it hang over the sides 1 inch so you can pull the load out easily after its cooked.
Spread the turkey mixture into the loaf pan and spoon the glaze over the top covering the top of the meatloaf completely.
Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the center of the meatloaf feels firm to the touch and the ground turkey is fully cooked (165F).
Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. The meatloaf will hold its shape better if you allow it to cool slightly.
Gently pull the parchement out of the pan releasing the meatloaf.
Slice it up and serve with your favorite sides! I love this meatloaf with mashed potatoes and a nice crisp cucumber or green salad. Check out my recipe for Tangy Cucumber Salad, it is perfect next to this dish.