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Extreme Vegan Makeover: "Meat" Loaf Edition

A self-confessed food television addict, most of the shows I watch have nothing to do with vegan cooking. They don’t have much to do with healthy eating either. Still, I tune in to Dinner: Impossible, Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, Iron Chef and one of my favorite shows, Throwdown with Bobby Flay. I love to watch Bobby Flay challenge people who excel at one particular dish to a cooking throwdown. It’s hard to know who to root for. On the one hand, I like Bobby and want him to win but on the other hand, it’s nice to see ordinary people get their moment of victory over a Master. Even Bobby acts like he wants his opponents to win! He is gracious and humble and that makes him even more likeable. It doesn’t hurt that he’s married to Stephanie March who plays my favorite Assistant D.A. on Law & Order: SVU. They even filmed an episode of Boy Meets Grill together where Stephanie taught Bobby her version of meatloaf.

My favorite Iron Chef episodes are the ones where Bobby competes. His signature southwestern dishes always make my mouth water. No matter what he prepares, you know it’s going to be colorful and full of flavor. Bobby combines multitudes of herbs and spices to create sauces and glazes in the most spectacular colors. The flavor just jumps off the screen.

I never got the chance to visit any of Bobby Flay’s restaurants before I became vegan and now I know I never will. Sadly, his new burger joints, Bobby’s Burger Palace, do not even offer a veggie burger! Still, when I saw a recipe in the February/March 2009 issue of Food Network Magazine for Bobby’s lighter version of meatloaf (it uses ground turkey), I knew it had vegan potential and set about making my own version of it. I guess you could say I challenged Bobby to a vegan meatloaf throwdown without his knowing about it 🙂

I thought about making it with the usual suspects: beans, nuts, tofu, but I wanted it to really taste like the meatloaf I used to make before I went veg. It’s rare that I ever use processed mock meats but one product I like is Lightlife’s Gimme Lean. It is vegan and comes in both ground beef and sausage style. One tube is equivalent to 1 lb. of meat. Each serving contains 7 grams of protein and absolutely no fat. The package also says, “We do not use soybeans that were produced using biotechnology.” Gimme Lean is low in calories and that makes my diet happy. Using the Gimme Lean Ground Beef Style in the recipe made for a delicious “meat” loaf reminiscent of the classic style but my husband, Tom, said this version was even better. Friends who have tried my recipe said they loved it. It tastes even better the next day when leftovers find their way into sandwiches. Filled with veggies, low in calories and cruelty-free, this version is a Vegan Throwdown winner!

Rhea’s Vegetable “Meat” Loaf with Balsamic Glaze
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 zucchini, finely diced
1 yellow squash, finely diced
2 bell peppers, assorted colors, finely diced
5 gloves garlic, grated or finely minced
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
¼-cup ground flaxseed
1 tbs. finely chopped fresh thyme, or 1 tsp. dried
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tube Gimme Lean “Ground Beef Style”
¾-cup Panko bread crumbs
4 tbs. nutritional yeast
¾-cup ketchup
¼ cup plus 2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in large sauté pan over high heat. Add zucchini, squash, bell peppers, garlic, and ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until veggies are almost soft, about 5 min. Set aside to cool.

2. In a large bowl, add fresh herbs, Gimme Lean, Panko bread crumbs, flax, nutritional yeast, ½ cup ketchup, 2 tbs. balsamic vinegar, and the cooked veggies. Mix until just combined.

3. Gently press the mixture into a loaf pan. Whisk the remaining ¼-cup ketchup, ¼-cup balsamic vinegar and ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes in a small bowl; brush the mixture over the entire loaf. Bake for about 45 min. Take out of oven and let sit for about 10 minutes to set before slicing. Enjoy!

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9 Responses to Extreme Vegan Makeover: "Meat" Loaf Edition

  1. Maunone Tanner December 23, 2013 at 9:54 pm #

    So happy to find a good vegan “meat” loaf. I’ve tried some complicated versions and even the vegan version at Whole Foods doesn’t compare — delicious and reminiscent of Mom’s!

    • Rhea December 24, 2013 at 1:09 pm #

      Reminiscent of Mom’s is the greatest compliment I could ever get! Thank you so much Maunone!

  2. Tom December 18, 2009 at 1:12 pm #

    Great recipe! My savage friends and family will even be impressed with this one.

  3. Christy October 25, 2009 at 5:01 am #

    This sounds so good. I’m going to try it.

    Thanks for your blog. I have just discovered it and plan to read all your posts. It’s like finding a store where everything is in my size and style! Bonanza!!

  4. Zoey October 15, 2009 at 12:09 pm #

    I love that you challenged Bobby Flay to a vegan meatloaf throwdown without him knowing about it- that made me smile. Yours looks delicious!

  5. Ginny Messina October 1, 2009 at 7:49 am #

    Why am I just now discovering your blog? It’s wonderful! I’m going to try this recipe over the weekend.

  6. Tom September 30, 2009 at 6:48 am #

    It’s the best I’ve ever had! You can count on it as a real entree for everyone.

  7. Furyfaerie84 September 27, 2009 at 2:26 pm #

    Sounds really good and you could definately compete in a cookoff with Bobby Flay!

  8. kversteeg September 27, 2009 at 11:44 am #

    This sounds SO GOOD! I think you need to challenge Bobby Flay to a Vegan cook-off. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what he can come up with??

    BRING IT ON BOBBY!!!


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