Recipe: Classic Beef Meat Loaf (using carrots, onion, zucchini, and bulgur)

CLASSIC BEEF MEAT LOAF

FOR THE VEGETABLES:
1 cup finely chopped carrot
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped zucchini
2 teaspoons minced garlic
FOR THE SEASONINGS:
1/3 cup chopped parsley
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
FOR THE MAIN INGREDIENTS:
1 pound extra-lean ground beef (10% fat)
1/2 cup uncooked bulgur (soaked in 1 1/2 cups boiling water for 20 minutes, drained)
2 large eggs
FOR THE TOPPING (OPTIONAL):
1/4 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Have ready a 13x9-inch baking dish and larger roasting pan.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add carrot, onion, zucchini, and garlic; saute until lightly browned. Let cool.

Stir in seasonings, ground beef, and drained bulgur. Shape mixture, in baking dish, into a 9-inch long by 4-inch wide loaf. Set dish in roasting pan and add top with ketchup, if desired.

Place pan in oven; add boiling water to come halfway up sides of baking dish.

Bake for 55 minutes at 350 degrees F or until center of loaf registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.

Remove dish from roasting pan. Let loaf stand 5 minutes before slicing.

Servings: 6
Source: Woman's Day; September 15, 1998