Mediterranean-Style Meatloaf with Goat Cheese-Yogurt Sauce

Moist, tender meatloaf is rustic, downhome comfort food at its best. Add the rich, aromatic flavors of Mediterranean ingredients and classic meatloaf steps up a notch.

Lamb, mint, parsley, and garlic highlight the meat mixture in this recipe, while goat cheese, yogurt, lemon, and more mint make up the thick, creamy sauce. The result is hearty, tangy, savory, and bright, all at once. If you enjoy the eclectic flavors of Mediterranean cuisine—particularly Greek—I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Note: When recipes call for fresh “mint,” it usually means spearmint (pointed leaves) simply because this milder type of mint is most common in cooking savory dishes. Peppermint (rounded leaves) is often used in making candies, baked goods, and medicinal products. Either variety of the herb may be used in place of the other, but if you use peppermint in a dish like this meatloaf, use about one-quarter less the amount since the flavor is much stronger.

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the Sauce

• 7 oz plain, traditional or low-fat Greek yogurt (not fat free)
• 3 oz goat cheese, softened
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh spearmint leaves
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

For the Meatloaf

• 1 lb ground lamb
• 1/2 lb ground beef (chuck preferred)
• 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 large egg, whisked
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh spearmint leaves
• 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups cooked basmati rice, for serving

Preparation

For the Sauce

1. Place the first 4 ingredients in a food processor. Blend until very creamy and thick. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the chopped mint. Season with salt and pepper and let stand at room temperature while the meatloaf bakes. (Or cover and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.)

Goat Cheese-Yogurt Sauce

For the Meatloaf

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. Combine all ingredients, except rice, in a large bowl and mix gently with your fingers. (Don’t overwork the mixture—that can cause the meatloaf to become dry and dense when cooked.)

Meatloaf Mixture

1. Form the mixture into about an 8 X 4-1/2-inch rectangle and place in a baking dish. Bake uncovered, 45-50 minutes. Remove and let rest 5 minutes.

Meatloaf Ready to Bake

Baked Meatloaf

To serve, divide the rice and spread across each of 4 plates. Cut the meatloaf into 8 slices and place 2 on top of the rice on each plate. Divide and spoon the sauce over the meatloaf. Serve right away.