Itzhak Perlmans Favorite Meat Loaf Recipes

THE BEST MEATLOAF I'VE EVER MADE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic 5 minutes, until onion is tender. Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, mix the onion and garlic, beef, crumbled bread, crushed crackers, egg, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 can tomato sauce. Gradually stir in the milk 1 teaspoon at a time until mixture is moist, but not soggy. Transfer the mixture to a 5x9 inch loaf pan.
• Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C), and continue baking 15 minutes, to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, mix the remaining tomato sauce and ketchup. Pour over the top of the meatloaf, and continue baking 10 minutes.

CLASSIC MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Combine the meatloaf mix, breadcrumbs, parsley, eggs, onion, garlic, 1/4 cup of the ketchup, 1 tablespoon of the Worcestershire, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, mix together until well combined.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and form it into a compact oval-shaped loaf about 9 inches by 5 inches. Bake the meatloaf for 30 minutes.
• Stir the brown sugar together with the remaining 1/4 cup ketchup and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire in a small bowl for the glaze. Brush the top and sides of the meatloaf all over with the glaze. Return to the oven and bake until the glaze starts to caramelize and a thermometer inserted in the center of the meatloaf registers 160 degrees F, about 25 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

ITZHAK PERLMAN'S FAVORITE MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Chop the onions and saute them until translucent, adding garlic clove, minced or put through garlic press, toward the end.
• Put the meat in a big bowl. Add the onions, garlic, ketchup, pepper and garlic salt. Knead by hand. Add the water and the bread crumbs and mix well by hand.
• Shape into 2 loaves in baking tins. Cook 30 to 40 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven. (''Stick a knife in,'' Mr. Perlman says. ''If it comes out cold, it's not ready; if it's warm, it is.'')