spinach meat roll

2016-11-15

I used a lot more spinach than any other recipe I've seen, as well as various lettuces. I cooked them beforehand and drained them to remove as much liquid as possible to prevent the roll from getting soggy. A mixture of honey and hot pepper powder can be substituted for the jalapeño jam.

This is a showpiece, something to be served as a centerpiece at the table for your guests to see before you serve it to them.

If you don't want to do all that extra work to make a meatroll, make meatballs instead and sprinkle them with half the cheese. Prepare and serve the spinach with the remainder of the cheese separately. It won't look as spectacular, but it will be the same flavor combination.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 8 servings:

2 lbs. ground meat of choice
1 lb. spinach
1 lb. mixed lettuces (spring mix)
1 cup onions, chopped
1 cup bell pepper mix, chopped
4 slices ham
6-10 slices bacon
½ lb. mozzarella, chopped
2 eggs
2 cups bread crumbs
S&P, spices
1 cup jalapeño jam

Pic1: spinach meatroll

Directions

Pic2: spinach & lettuce
Pic3: stew
Pic4: drain

Preheat the oven to 350 ºF.
Combine the meat, eggs, bread crumbs and seasoning in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.
Chop the spinach and lettuce coarsely, sauté with onions and bell peppers until soft.
Drain in a sieve and push down on the greens to remove as much liquid as possible.

Pic5: meat mix
Pic7: NOT this way;
ham first, then spinach
Pic7: roll & wrap

Spread out the meat on a sheet of aluminum foil, about the size of 2x2 slices of ham. (Pic4)
Place the ham on the ground meat, then spread the greens on the ham to keep them inside the ham.
Do not do it the other way around as shown in the picture. The meat layer will break up.
Sprinkle the cheese.
Use the foil sheet to roll up everything tight.
Lay out the bacon slices on an aluminum foil sheet.
Place the meat roll on top at one end and use the foil sheet roll the bacon around the log.
Seal the ends by pushing the ground meat over the filling.
Carefully transfer the roll to a baking dish.

Pic8: paint with jam
Pic9: bake
Pic10: carve

Paint the jalapeño jam on the bacon. (Pic5)
Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake at 350 ºF for 60 minutes.
Remove the foil.
Bake 60 more minutes, or until the thermometer shows internal temp of 160 ºF. (Pic6)
Remove from the oven and rest 15 minutes before carving. (Pic7)
Serve with mashed potatoes (Pic1) Enjoy.

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org