East Croatian Meat Loaf Recipes

ITALIAN MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the egg, half of the tomato sauce, bread crumbs, onion and green pepper if desired, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, salt and pepper. Add beef; mix well. , On a large piece of heavy-duty foil, pat meat mixture into a 14x8-in. rectangle. Sprinkle cheeses to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a short side and peeling foil away while rolling. Seal seam and ends. Transfer to a microwave-safe glass 9x5-in. loaf pan. , Microwave, uncovered, at 50% power for 9 minutes, rotating a half turn once; drain. Continue cooking on 50% power for 14-16 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, rotating a half turn once. In a bowl, combine the remaining tomato sauce and oregano. Pour over meat loaf. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-1/2 minutes. Cover loosely with foil; let stand 5 minutes before serving.

EASY OLD FASHIONED MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Thoroughly mix all ingredients.
• Shape in loaf pan.
• Cover with more ketchup if desired.
• Bake one hour at 350 degrees.

EAST CROATIAN MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• First hard boil two eggs, and when done remove from shells; put aside.
• Finely mince onion and garlic. Mix together both meats, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, two fresh eggs, water, salt, pepper, paprika, mustard and parsley. Mix all ingredients with hand to make nice meat mixture.
• Put mixture onto aluminum foil and spread to about 20x20cm flat surface. Put two hard boiled eggs in the middle and roll it into a loaf. Let it stay in foil for some time to form a loaf.
• Cut some bacon into thin slices to cover first bottom of casserole pot (you will put meat loaf on this bacon) and some to cover the loaf. The rest of bacon cut into small cubes.
• Lay loaf on bacon slices (remove aluminum foil) making sure the loaf stays together. Cover loaf with bacon slices and put into 200°C oven for 50 minutes. Spread bacon cubes around meat loaf (it will be enough fat from this bacon, so you do not have to add oil).
• During baking, add some beef stock (pour over the roast). When the loaf is done remove it carefully from casserole and deglaze the pot with some beef stock, add some flour and sour cream, stir well. Pour the sauce over meat loaf and serve.

KRAFNE (CROATIAN DOUGHNUTS)

Steps:

• Take a large pot (glass pot for salad or similar) and put in it flour, sugar, slightly melted butter, salt, rum and slightly warm milk (25-30°C) and mix well using mixer or dough-machine.
• The dough must be smooth and "shiny". Cover the dough with warm kitchen towel and leave it grow for 40-50 minutes (it must double in size).
• Knead the dough again and cut into two parts. One part cover with kitchen towel again and thin the second part into 2 cm thick dough. Use mould for "krafne" or normal glass 6 cm. in diameter. Cut round pieces. Do this until there is no more dough (re-knead and do it again).
• Now, knead the second part of the dough and do the same thing (with glass). Let it grow for more 20 minutes.
• Take a large pot, pour 1 liter of oil and heat to 80-100°C Fry several krafne in oil; first covered (not more than 1 minute or until brownish) on one side, and than uncovered1 minute on the other side (them must not touch each other). They must have white ring (we call it in Zagreb: "ramftl").
• When they are done, take them out of oil with hollow spoon and put onto paper towel to drain surplus of oil. Using cooking syringe put jam into each "krafn". Spread grounded sugar over and serve. They are very good when they are warm, but not too warm.

TWOSOME MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients; mix thoroughly and shape into 2 loaves. Place in shallow baking pan.
• Combine last 3 ingredients; spread over loaves.
• Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes.

KILLER HUNGARIAN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• combine first 10 ingredients in large bowl, I use my hands to break up meat then a spoon to add veggies.
• make a well in middle and add beaten eggs to bread crumbs in the well, then use spoon to mix with meat mixture.
• layer 1/2 meat mixture in 13 x 9 inch pan, (I prefer a glass pan).
• lay cheese over meat keeping it 1 inch from edge.
• layer the rest of the meat over the cheese and pat into shape.
• use a blender to puree tomato(s).
• add sugar and vinegar to pureed tomato, mix well then pour over meat loaf.
• bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour 15 minutes.
• serve and enjoy.