An Esalen favorite, in our book! The word “basic” doesn’t give this meatloaf enough credit, but that’s what it is, a nice basic meatloaf. Honestly, when we want meatloaf we don’t want something that’s trying to be more than it is. Meatloaf is comfort food. This is the ultimate recipe.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 stalk diced celery
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork (the original recipe called for 2 pounds ground beef, we like the depth the mixture gives)
2 eggs
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon ground pepper
1 can tomato sauce

Instructions:

Saute onions in the olive oil over medium heat until translucent
Add celery and saute until tender
Place the meat in a mixing bowl
Beat the egg and blend into the meat
Add Worcestershire, bread crumbs, sauteed veggies, salt, pepper and mix until well blended
Place the meatloaf on a sheet of parchment paper, shape it into a loaf and then wrap in parchment paper
(this keeps if from drying out)
Place in preheated oven at 350 F for 1 hour
Unwrap the meatloaf, pour the can of tomato sauce over the entire meatloaf
Bake another 20 -30 minutes
A meat thermometer should read 165 F when it is done