Let me set the record straight right now. This recipe is not going to win a beauty contest. It is definitely not the best looking dish in the world, but sometimes beauty is in the eye of the fork-holder. Once again – in fact two posts in a row – I am joining spinach and feta to bring a humble ingredient (first cauliflower, now ground turkey) into the spotlight. This meatloaf turned out moist, and quite flavorful with the salty bite of feta cheese in the middle. I think this recipe could work very nicely made in muffin tins, with feta cheese in the center. Individual servings are always a lot of fun. Note to self: try that next time.
FETA-STUFFED TURKEY MEATLOAF
(adapted from All Day I Dream about Food)
1 large shallot, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 lbs ground turkey
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and heat your oven to 325 F.
.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in shallots, salt and pepper and saute until shallots are translucent but do not allow them to brown. Add in spinach and stir until heated through. Allow it to cool before proceeding with the recipe.
.
In a large mixing bowl, combine sautéed shallots, ground turkey, coconut flour, chicken stock, egg and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until very well combined. Place half of the turkey mixture on prepared baking sheet and shape into a flat rectangle, about 1 inch thick. Cover with feta cheese, pressing on feta to adhere to meatloaf. Place remaining turkey mixture over top of feta and shape the whole thing into a rough loaf.
.
Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 160 F on an instant read thermometer.
Cut into slices and serve.
ENJOY!
to print the recipe, click here
Did you know that there are some words in English that I am a bit afraid of? Worcestershire is one of them. I refer to it as “that sauce”, so that my dignity is preserved. In Brazil we call it “molho inglês” (English sauce), a clever move if you ask me. Speaking of tricky words, I also avoid saying “beach” and “sheet” because apparently I tend to lead both words into the wrong direction. But, I digress. That sauce is very important in this recipe, it adds the umami component so fashionable right now. Or maybe it was so fashionable a couple of years ago, and I’m slow to catch up. Still, add it. If you can pronounce it correctly, even better! 😉
This topic of tricky words for foreigners made me think of the name of a city in the state where I was born, São Paulo. Please try to say it before you listen to the correct pronunciation in the file below it. Ready?
The name of the city is… ITAQUAQUECETUBA
and now see how you did, by listening to yours truly…
.
In closing, a little language trivia for you: the name Itaquaquecetuba comes from tupi-guarani, meaning “a place of abundant bamboo sharp as knives”.
ONE YEAR AGO: Artichoke-Saffron Souffle
TWO YEARS AGO: Cinnamon-Wreath
.
THREE YEARS AGO: Yeastspotting 11.11.11
.
FOUR YEARS AGO: Oven-baked Risotto
.
FIVE YEARS AGO: Potato-Roquefort Cakes with Ripe Pears
I’m sitting here laughing and asking Charlie if he’s ready to head to the bitch. He’s looking at me funny.
Around here they call that sauce, ‘wooster’. Go figure.
Your meatloaf is going to be great at my house because John will eat it if it has feta in it. Thanks for the laughs.
LikeLike
I see, so Charlie is better at detecting “certain sounds” than me…. Heck, such is life…. tell him Itaquaquecetuba three times fast and see how he reacts… 😉
LikeLike
Oh, Etakwakaseytooba 🙂
LikeLike
Yummm
LikeLike
You said it all!
LikeLike
Muito interessante! Seria meu jantar hj se nao tivesse pilates a noite 1 15 no forno me atrapalha, pois chego as 9 da noite em casa Mas ja coloquei no meu pininterest site (q ha uns dias uso como ‘referencia’ pra receitas passadas e futuras) e testarei em brevissimo! Tks!
LikeLike
Tambem sou fa de Pinterest, guardo tudo por la’ e depois e’ so’ ter 10 anos de tempo para cozinhar tudo que guardo… 😉
LikeLike
Worcestershire sauce I think is sitting in every British kitchen. I think it spices up anything even cheese on toast.
LikeLike
I love it! Another very British thing I think it’s nice, but not everyone agrees, is Marmite….
LikeLike
Oh, this sounds exciting: turkey mince is hugely popular in my neck of the woods and most reasonable in price. the coconut flour is a very interesting addition and love the feta also . . . and I do think I shall make individual portions . . . thanks heaps for one of the me next weekend’s meals 🙂 ! Shall report back 🙂 !
LikeLike
Great! I hope you have a chance to make it, I know that sometimes I feel like cooking something right away, but life interferes… ;-0))))
LikeLike
Oh, agree with Maureen about the approximate pronunciation of the ‘ita . . ‘ word’: can’t get your line to play after an 18-hour work day 😀 !! Worcestershire is easy ‘woostersheer’ 🙂 !!!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
i have never thought to do turkey meatloaf before, I just always do beef and I love that you stuffed it with feta instead of other recipes I have seen that use mozzarella. THIS LOOKS INSANELY DELICIOUS
LikeLike
I have at least one more turkey loaf in the blog, long long time ago. I think it’s nice but it definitely needs extra spices and things to perk it up
LikeLike
Love Turkey Meatloaf, have made similar recipe adding chopped sun-dried tomatoes and crumbling the feta. I like the idea of the feta in the middle of muffin versions, will try that next time for sure!
LikeLike
I actually think your version crumbling the feta can be quite nice… feta in any shape or form, is always good with me!
LikeLike
Yum! Some of my favorite food is the ugliest. I’m really picky about feta because I think it can quickly make a dish too salty, but I love it when it’s stuffed and baked into something- seems to better enhance the flavors than just crumbling feta on top after cooking.
LikeLike
Isn’t that right? Some ugly foods are pretty tasty….
LikeLike
Haha…beauty is in the eye of the fork holder! Love it, and my fork to mouth would love this as well. Leftover meatloaf is my favorite and I’m looking forward to trying this. I’ve not thought to use flour in my meatloaf, interesting twist to make it gluten free.
LikeLike
Leftover meatloaf is amazing, I almost prefer it to the first time…
LikeLike
Love the idea of making this in muffin tins! Mike would love this recipe and I have a feeling Mr. N would too. I have a love hate relationship with feta (and meatloaf for that matter), but I usually fall to the love side when it’s with spinach. Couldn’t play the city name on my phone. I’ll have to try later to see how I did. 🙂
LikeLike
Good luck with Itaquaquecetuba… would love to be there to hear it…. 😉
LikeLike
feta stuffed anything tickles my toes and in my world view there is nothing that isn’t ameliorated with a good dousing of worcestershire sauce! 😀 (I tell y’a, those Canadian food bloggers, hard to beat… 😉 ). I have been making the same version of meatloaf for close to a year now and I think we are all ready for this change. Thanks Sally – great inspiration.
LikeLike
I have a “thing” for Canadian food bloggers… did you notice? Australians too… 😉
LikeLike
Just picked up the ingredients to make this delightful loaf (plus a few… ‘add-ons’…will see how they turn out!) and will let you know. Enjoy your trip Sally — so happy for you that you’re getting to see your Mom… that’s the best. Safe, fun and full travels! xx
LikeLike
I cannot say that sauce either. Was just laughing about thta this weekend lol. Love the spinach and feta combination here. I am due for a meatloaf and I will just be trying this
LikeLike
HA! I am not alone! I am not alone!
LikeLike
What a great looking meatloaf. Since it’s so healthy sounding I’ll have two servings.
LikeLike
You are entitled to have as many slices as you like!
LikeLike
I love using ground turkey and combining it with a salty feta middle is inspired. I alternate between calling it Wooster sauce and Worchestershire. (It’s just as tricky to spell as to say.)
LikeLike
I like Wooster – I might adopt that from now on…. thank you!
LikeLike
Ever since I registered for Royal Worcester china a hundred years ago, I mixed up all of these pronunciations. I love your recording!! Adorable. And I’m so making that meatloaf Sally.
LikeLike
Great, Karen! I am thrilled to realize I am not the only one twisting my tongue to get “that sauce” right. Except that I don’t. You do, I am sure!
LikeLike
That feta stuffed meatloaf looks YUMMMMMM…thank you for the recips- I found you via Orgasmic Cheffy. Worcestershire sauce is lovely on lamb chops – been a big thing in Australia for 100 years.
LikeLike
Wonderful! Love Orgasmic Chef, Maureen is absolutely great! Heck she is Blogger Royalty, and I feel honored to have her visit my site…. Welcome to the Bewitching!
LikeLike
I love dishes that use turkey, it’s so quick to take on new flavors and is so healthy for you. Pretty isn’t the important thing, is it.. it’s the taste! And I want to taste this one:)
LikeLike
Agree with you, that’s why I finally decided to blog on this – it’s been waiting for a while, I looked at the picture and said to myself “No way!”, but… taste won
LikeLike
I beg to differ with you, Sally. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, to this beholder, your meatloaf looks beautiful.. Love seeing the feta cheese in there with the flecks of spinach. Perfection on a plate!
Funny you mentioned pronunciation. Just today, I commented to a friend that I read blogs from around the world and, when I do, in my head I “hear” their voice as I read their words. It’s a bit of a shock if and when I actually meet one and learn that they’ve an accent. Never occurred to me! 🙂
LikeLike
John, please forgive me for barging in in my inimitable manner, but . . . I do exactly the same: now I know how Sally sounds from her videos and some Oz bloggers post regular videos also, but I have been dying to hear Celi and you in person 🙂 ! And everyone else whom I visit most days of course . . .there would be some surprises indeed methinks !!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t that amazing? You can never guess the exact accent of a person – even someone born and raised in the US of A, you can never be quite sure. They can have an Oklahoman twist, or a New Yorker twist… pretty cool
Now, of course, Brazilians hammer the language in totally different ways… beach? bitch? 🙂
LikeLike
I had a good friend who was Brazilian, born in Sao Paulo. He was a great guy but his accent grew thicker with every drink he enjoyed. By the end of the night, we could barely understand a word he said. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m scared as well of saying Worcestershire, mainly because it’s from the UK hence one should say it with a ‘proper’ English accent. Am I right?
Anyways I love this meatloaf, it’s literally packed with flavors I adore: feta, Worcestershire, coconut flour, spinach, turkey. I have to try this!
LikeLike
If you are scared of it, I am now at peace with the universe 😉
LikeLike
I want to be at peace with the universe as well…
LikeLike
For the record, I will eat ANYTHING stuffed with feta! I know what you mean about meatloaf being practically un-photographable….such a shame really because it can be so good to eat. LOVE this dish, even if it isn’t a beauty queen.
LikeLike
Hard to take a good photo of those puppies! I have another one waiting to be blogged about…. (sigh)
LikeLike
Sally, I don’t know how I’ve managed to miss your wonderful blog for so long. I’ll be late getting to bed tonight going through your backlog.
I’ve never seen feta with turkey, but I love the way feta gives its moisture to other things and seasons at the same time. Packed with a good punch of good old Wurstershushire sauce, delicious.
LikeLike
Oh, my! I just wished you had landed on my blog when a better photo was on the front page…. I feel like I was caught answering the front door in pajamas… 😉
great to see you here….. although I am a bit embarrassed (sigh)
LikeLike
I love how this looks almost like a roulade instead of a meatloaf. Way to get all fancy with it!
LikeLike
Indeed, it ended up looking more like a roulade…
LikeLike