Mini Turkey Meatloaves
GLUTEN FREE, GRAIN FREE, DAIRY FREE, SOY FREE, PALEO
You may have noticed that I love prosciutto, I use it a lot. I love how it crisps up so splendidly once cooked, adds a rich saltiness, and holds food stuffs together turning them into salty, porky parcels. It transforms otherwise ordinary meals into something special and makes special things extraordinary!
Another thing I love is turkey. Not just because it is a beautifully rich flavourful meat, but because it is a wonderful source of tryptophan! “What is tryptophan?” I hear you asking, I’m so glad you asked! It’s an essential amino-acid that is imperative in the regulation of many mood important hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and melatonin. So if you want to consume foods that will help to promote sleep, and a general sense of calm and happiness, turkey is for you! Now of course there is a lot more to hormone regulation than just chomping on some turkey, but hey, it’s a pretty good excuse nonetheless. Wrap it up in some prosciutto, throw in a few sparkly cranberries, and voila, you have spectacular little turkey meatloaf parcels!
Recipe (makes 12)
6 slices of Italian Prosciutto (each piece sliced in half, lengthways)
250g white (purple skinned) sweet potato, peeled, finely grated and juices squeezed out (mine weighed 165g after squeezing out the juices)
1 spring onion very finely sliced
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
500g Turkey Mince
½ cup firmly packed almond flour
½ cup firmly packed dried cranberries, finely chopped
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cracked black pepper
¾ tsp dried thyme
Pinch each of dried oregano and paprika
Olive oil
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C and generously grease a 12 hole muffin pan with olive oil.
Place half a slice of prosciutto in each muffin hole. Ideally the prosciutto will drape over the sides of each muffin hole (as pictured below). The sheets of prosciutto will wrap around each mini meatloaf making lovely little meatloaf parcels.
Next place your finely sliced spring onion, finely grated and squeezed sweet potato, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
Now add the turkey mince, almond flour, cranberries and your herbs and spices. Using your hands, or a spoon (it’s easier to use your hands but may be a touch intimate with raw meat for some) mix until well combined.
Evenly divide the meatloaf mixture between the 12 muffin holes and wrap the overhanging prosciutto over the top to form neat little parcels.
Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until your mini meatloaves are lightly browned and crispy on top.
Remove from the muffin tray and serve! We enjoyed these lovelies with honey-ed carrots and quick-roasted asparagus.
