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Veggie Meatloaf with Checca Sauce

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Veggie Meatloaf with Checca Sauce

A meat-less loaf with a quick and fresh tomato sauce. Freezes well, an easy make-ahead favorite packed with chunks of corn, lentils and rice. One of the best vegetarian loafs I've ever tried.

 

Yield

6 servings

Prep

28 min

Cook

92 min

Ready

123 min
Trans-fat Free, High Fiber

Ingredients

Amount Measure Ingredient Features
Checca sauce
12 ounces cherry tomatoes
1 pint, halved
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4 scallions, spring or green onions
chopped
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4 cloves garlic
minced, or more or less as needed
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8 basil
leaves, freshly chopped
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2 ½ tablespoons olive oil, extra-virgin
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salt and black pepper
to taste
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Lentil meatless loaf
5 ounces lentils
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3 cups vegetarian chicken broth, non-fat, low-sodium
or vegetable broth
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1 cup brown rice
uncooked, rinsed well
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½ cup carrots
shredded
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½ cup white onion
finely chopped
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1 celery stalks
sliced
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½ cup corn
fresh or frozen
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2 tablespoons canola oil
or any other vegetable oil, or you can use butter, divided
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10 ounces spinach
fresh
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8 ounces mozzarella cheese
cubed and divided, about 1 1/2 cups
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2 large eggs
lightly beaten
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¼ cup Parmesan cheese
plus 2 tablespoons
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½ cup basil
freshly chopped
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½ teaspoon salt and black pepper
or to taste
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1 large tomatoes
sliced
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Ingredients

Amount Measure Ingredient Features
Checca sauce:
346.8 ml/g cherry tomatoes
1 pint, halved
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4 each scallions, spring or green onions
chopped
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4 cloves garlic
minced, or more or less as needed
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8 each basil
leaves, freshly chopped
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38 ml olive oil, extra-virgin
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1 x salt and black pepper
to taste
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Lentil meatless loaf:
144.5 ml/g lentils
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7.1E+2 ml vegetarian chicken broth, non-fat, low-sodium
or vegetable broth
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237 ml brown rice
uncooked, rinsed well
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118 ml carrots
shredded
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118 ml white onion
finely chopped
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1 each celery stalks
sliced
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118 ml corn
fresh or frozen
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3E+1 ml canola oil
or any other vegetable oil, or you can use butter, divided
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289 ml/g spinach
fresh
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231.2 ml/g mozzarella cheese
cubed and divided, about 1 1/2 cups
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2 each eggs
lightly beaten
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59 ml Parmesan cheese
plus 2 tablespoons
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118 ml basil
freshly chopped
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2.5 ml salt and black pepper
or to taste
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1 large tomatoes
sliced
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Directions

To make the Checca Sauce:

Combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, basil, and oil in a processor.

Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, being careful not to purée (or you can chop by hand). Set aside.

Season the sauce with salt and pepper.

To make the Lentil Loaf:

Place the lentils in a large saucepan of cold water.

Bring the water just to a boil over high heat.

Carefully drain the boiling water and rinse the lentils.

Meanwhile, in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth to a boil.

Add the rice and return the liquid to a boil.

Decrease the heat to low, cover the rice, and gently simmer without stirring for 10 minutes. Stir in the lentils, onion, carrot, and celery.

Cover and continue cooking without stirring until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes longer.

Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the corn over the rice and lentils and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.

Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and let stand for 5 more minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃).

Spread 1 tablespoon of the oil or butter over a 10 by 4½ by 3-inch loaf pan.

In a heavy, large skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes.

Drain and squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. Transfer the spinach to a work surface and coarsely chop.

In a large bowl, gently mix the lentil mixture, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, pepper, and half of the checca sauce.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a row over the lentil mixture.

Sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon of oil on top or dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.

Bake uncovered until the loaf is heated through and the topping is melted and starting to brown, about 30 minutes.

Let cool for 15 minutes. Slice the loaf into 2-inch slices, arrange on plates, and serve with the remaining checca sauce.

Leftover can be frozen.



* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

Comments


anonymous

Fabulous taste and texture. My husband absolutely loves this recipe. We are always looking for great, hearty vegetarian Chicca sauce recipes, and this recipe is amazing. Indeed, it is a time-consuming recipe, but overall, the recipe is simple and definitely worth the time.

 

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 239g (8.4 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 34150% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 90mg 30%
Sodium 344mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 8%
Dietary Fiber 8g 34%
Sugars g
Protein 40g
Vitamin A 66% Vitamin C 31%
Calcium 40% Iron 15%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
 

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