Swedish Meatloaf with Caramelized Cabbage (Kalpudding)

I planned to make this Swedish dish after spending the afternoon at IKEA. 🙂 I knew that we could buy the lingonberry preserves for the topping during our shopping spree too.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Sam Sifton. I used a combination of ground pork and ground turkey instead of ground beef. Next time I would double the sauce- loved it. Sifton recommended serving it with boiled potatoes. We ate it with mashed new potatoes (my husband’s request) and roasted asparagus. It was such wonderful comfort food. Great.

Yield: 6 servings

For the Meatloaf:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 head green cabbage, approximately 3 pounds, cored and shredded
• 3 tablespoons molasses or golden syrup
• coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1 small yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• ⅓ cup chicken, turkey, beef or vegetable stock, ideally homemade or low-sodium store-bought (or water)

For the Sauce:

• ⅓ cup lingonberry preserves
• 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• dash of Worcestershire sauce, or to taste

1. Shred the cabbage in a food processor.
2. Heat oven to 350, preferably on convection.
3. Put a large pan over medium-high heat, and add the butter. When it starts to foam, add the cabbage and molasses, lower the heat to medium and sprinkle with salt. Cook slowly, stirring often, until all the liquid has evaporated and the cabbage is caramelized, approximately 20-25 minutes.
4. While the cabbage is cooking, lightly mix the meats in a large bowl, then add the onion, cream, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Mix again to combine.
5. When the cabbage is done, add about a third of it to the meat mixture, and mix to combine.
6. Grease an 8-inch-square or 8 x 10-inch baking pan, and transfer the meat mixture to it, spreading it out to cover the whole surface evenly.
7. Spread remaining cabbage over the meat, pour the stock or water over the top and place in the oven, on a parchment-lined baking sheet, to cook for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, or until the cabbage is very, very caramelized, almost dry and crunchy at the edges.
8. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes or so before serving.
9. While the meat and cabbage cooks, make the sauce. Heat lingonberry preserves, vinegar and butter in a small pot set over medium heat, then add Worcestershire sauce to taste. Serve alongside the kalpudding.

One Year Ago:

• North African Meatballs

Two Years Ago:

• Pork & Ricotta Meatballs in Parmesan Broth

Three Years Ago:

• Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Thyme

Four Years Ago:

• Italian Braised Pork
• Pastitsio

Squash & Pork Stir-Fry

I’m sure you’ve rushed around the grocery store thinking you’ve purchased the necessary ingredients to throw together a “quick” weeknight meal. Right? I thought that was the case for me… When  I started to prepare this dish, I realized that I had ground pork instead of pork sausage and butternut instead of kabocha squash. I’m blaming holiday stress and distraction. (Well, truth be told, the squash was a conscious substitution- no fabulous kabocha to be found.)

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appetit, contributed by Chris Morocco. I doubled the recipe, used ground pork instead of pork sausage (oops!), seasoned accordingly, butternut instead of kabocha squash, and cashews instead of peanuts. I also omitted the sugar. I roasted the squash instead of steaming and sautéing it. We let the dish stand alone, but it would also be wonderful accompanied by rice. Delicious!

Yield: 4 Servings

• 1 medium butternut or kabocha squash, cut into 1-inch pieces, approximately 4 cups
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 pound (80 percent lean) ground pork
• 1 tsp coarse salt, plus more for squash
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more for squash
• dash or two of red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 6 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 large shallot, chopped
• 2 serrano chiles, seeded and sliced
• 1 T finely grated peeled ginger root
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 1 large lime)
• 4 tsp fish sauce
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• salted, roasted peanuts or cashews and chopped cilantro, for serving, as desired

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees, preferably on convection roast.
2. Toss squash with 1 T olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Place squash on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet and roast in the oven until tender, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly.
3. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Add pork, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and paprika; cook, breaking into large pieces and stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
4. Add garlic, shallot, chiles, and ginger and cook, stirring often, just until softened, about 2 minutes.
5. Add roasted squash, lime juice, fish sauce, and scallions; toss to combine.
6. Serve stir-fry topped with nuts and cilantro, as desired.

One Year Ago:

• Turkey & Spinach Curry

Two Years Ago:

• Panko-Crusted Mustard Salmon
• Velvet Chicken with Mustard Sauce

Three Years Ago:

• Pea Risotto
• Caramel Chicken

Four Years Ago:

• Butternut Squash & Bacon Quiche
• Pork Chops with Mustard Cream Sauce

If you like this you may also like:

• Thai One-Pot

Pork Chile Verde

As I love sharing recipes, I am also thrilled when someone shares a recipe with me! 🙂 My son’s swimming coach texted me the link to this wonderful dish after she made it for her family. What fun! She knew we would enjoy it too.

This recipe was adapted from Today.com, contributed by Padma Lakshmi. I doubled the garlic, reduced the pork, used large onions, and seeded the jalapeños. We ate it over brown Basmati rice with cornbread on the side. Full-flavored and absolutely fabulous!

Yield: Serves 6

• 1 pound tomatillos, husks removed and quartered
• 2 avocados, peeled and pitted
• 4 jalapeños, seeded
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 4 tablespoons lime juice
• coarse salt
• 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 8 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, divided
• 2 large yellow onions, diced
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 1/4 to 1/2 pounds ground pork
• 1 shot tequila, preferably Alejo
• 15 oz can cannellini beans, drained
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 lime, juiced, optional
• rice, for serving, optional

1. In a blender (I used a Vitamix), combine the tomatillos, avocados, jalapeños, four cloves of garlic, cilantro, lime juice, 2 teaspoons of olive oil, salt, 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds and 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar. Puree until smooth. (Side note: This makes a great salsa verde sauce on its own; you may want to buy double the ingredients and use the extra as a dipping sauce for other savory treats!)
2. In a heavy soup pot, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Slice remaining four cloves of the garlic in half, and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the onions, oregano, cumin, remaining sesame seeds and red pepper flakes, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until onions are translucent.
4. Add the ground pork and cook until no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
5. Add in the shot of tequila.
6. Add the tomatillo sauce, beans and water or stock to the pork mixture.
7. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often.
8. Stir in the lime juice just before serving, if desired.

One Year Ago:

• Chorizo-Potato Tacos

Two Years Ago:

• Corn Queso Fundido
• Dark Meat Chicken Chili

Three Years Ago:

• Chicken Chili with Chipotle and Poblano Chiles
• Slow-Cooker Chicken Mole

Four Years Ago:

• Chipotle Chicken & Rice
• Enchiladas Suizas

Thai One-Pot

I made this quick one-pot dish so that my son could gobble it up before his swim practice. After practice, he used my husband’s phone to text me (repeatedly), “I’m starving! I need more ONE POT!!” He absolutely loved it. Needless to say, he ate all of the leftovers. 🙂

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine. I lightened the recipe by using ground turkey instead of ground pork. I also used arborio rice. My serving had additional fresh lime juice squeezed all over the top. Tasty!

Yield: Serves 4

• 1 tablespoon canola or sunflower oil
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 1/4 pounds lean ground pork or turkey
• 3/4 cup short-grain rice (I used arborio rice)
• 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 scallions including green tops, chopped, plus more for garnish
• radishes, cut into thin slices, to taste, for garnish
• 5 tablespoons chopped cilantro or fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
• juice from about 1 lime, plus lime wedges for garnish

1. In a large frying pan, heat the oil over moderately high heat. (I used a 4-quart covered pan.)
2. Add the bell peppers, shiitakes, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove.
3. Add the ground meat to the pan and cook, stirring, until it is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Spoon off the fat from the pan, if using pork. Season with 1/4 tsp of salt and freshly ground pepper.
4. Stir in the bell peppers and shiitakes, the rice, broth, soy sauce, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the cayenne.
5. Bring to a simmer. Cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, without removing the lid, until the rice is just done, about 20 minutes.
6. Remove the pot from the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
7. Stir in the scallions, cilantro, and lime juice.
8. Garnish with additional lime wedges, radishes, cilantro, and scallion slices, as desired. Serve.

One Year Ago:

• Curry Noodles with Shrimp & Coconut

Two Years Ago:

• Thai Green Curry with Chicken

Three Years Ago:

• Palestinian Chicken
• Poisson Meunière or Fish with Lemon & Browned Butter Sauce
• Pinchos Morunos or Pork Kebabs with Moorish Seasonings

Oaxacan Pork Picadillo Tacos

This is an easy upgrade to the typical Taco Tuesday ground beef tacos. Rick Bayless uses tomatoes and sweet spices to flavor the meat (ground pork) as well as nuts and raisins to add contrasting texture. Delicious!

We ate the picadillo in warm hard-shell taco shells with avocado slices, refried beans, steamed greens, and brown Basmati rice. A little sprinkling of feta or queso fresco was a nice garnish too. This recipe was adapted from Rick Bayless.com.

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
• 1 1/2 T vegetable oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 1 1/2 pounds lean, coarse-ground pork
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns OR about 3/4 tsp ground
• 1-inch piece cinnamon stick OR 1 teaspoon ground
• 5 cloves OR about 1/8 teaspoon ground
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 4 tsp cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• coarse salt (about 1 teaspoon)

1. Pour the tomatoes directly into a blender and blend until smooth. (I used a Vitamix.)
2. Heat the oil in a large, 14-inch skillet over medium heat. (I used enameled cast iron.)
3. When hot, add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 2 minutes longer.
4. Add the pork in a thin layer and fry, stirring frequently, until cooked and lightly brown. (If quite a bit of fat has rendered from the meat, drain it off.)
5. If using whole spices, add the pepper, cinnamon and cloves in a mortar or spice grinder. Add the ground spices to the skillet along with the tomato puree, raisins and vinegar.
6. Simmer until reduced to a thick, homogenous mass, 30 to 45 minutes.
7. While the filling simmers, toast the almonds for about 8 to 10 minutes in a 325 degree oven.
8. Stir toasted almonds into the filling; adjust seasoning as needed with salt. Serve.

Note: The finished picadillo can be covered and refrigerated for 3 or 4 days.

One Year Ago:

• Slow Cooker Pork Tinga Tacos

Two Years Ago:

• Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Thyme

Three Years Ago:

• Vodka Sauce
• Lighter Three-Cheese Mac

Pork & Ricotta Meatballs in Parmesan Broth

Classy comfort food! This quick-cooking dish has incredibly tender meatballs and egg noodles basking in a cheesy broth. The spinach and peas make it pretty. What’s not to like? This recipe was adapted from a Food and Wine “staff favorite” recipe, contributed by Kay Chun. I increased the amount of spinach. We ate it over pappardelle noodles with roasted asparagus on the side. Lovely.

I’m sharing this tasty dish with Angie and friends for Fiesta Friday #58  at The Novice Gardener, co-hosted by Caroline@Caroline’s Cooking and Elaine@Foodbod. Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 6

• 1 cup fresh ricotta (8 ounces)
  
• 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for garnish
  
• 1 large egg
  
• 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
  
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  
• coarse Kosher salt
  
• freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1 1/4 pounds ground pork
  
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 1 quart chicken stock or low-sodium broth
  
• one 3-by-1-inch piece of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  
• 1 cup thawed frozen peas (I used petite peas)
  
• 6 oz baby spinach
  
• Egg noodles, for serving (I used pappardelle noodles)

1. In a large bowl, stir the ricotta and 1/4 cup of grated Parmigiano with the egg, breadcrumbs, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 cup of water. Add the pork and combine. Form into 12 meatballs.
   
2. In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the olive oil. Add the meatballs and cook over moderate heat, turning, until golden all over, about 6 minutes.
3. Stir in the broth and the piece of cheese. Cover and simmer gently over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are cooked through and the broth is slightly reduced, about 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, cook the egg noodles in salted, boiling water according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
5. After the meatballs are cooked through, stir in the peas and spinach, season with salt and pepper, and simmer until the peas are warmed through.
   
6. Serve in shallow bowls, spooning the meatballs and broth over the egg noodles. Garnish with grated Parmigiano and serve.
   

Note: The uncooked meatballs can be refrigerated overnight.

One Year Ago:

• Maushawa: Afghani Bean & Meatball Soup
• Pork Chops with Shiitake Mushrooms & Mustard Vinaigrette

Two Years Ago:

• Italian Braised Pork
• Pork Chops with Apples & Cider
• Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork