Meat Recipes - Cinnamon Meat Loaf Recipe

Ingredients

• 30ml/2 tbsp fish sauce

• 25ml/1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

• 10ml/2 tsp sugar

• 5ml/1 tsp ground black pepper

• 15ml/1 tbsp potato starch

• 450g/1lb lean minced (ground) pork

• 25g/1 oz pork fat, very finely chopped

• 4 shallots, very finely chopped oil, for greasing

• chili oil or hot chili sauce, for drizzling

• red chili strips, to garnish

• bread or noodles, to serve

Serves 4-6

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Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the fish sauce, ground cinnamon, sugar and black pepper. Beat in the potato starch.

2. Add the minced pork. the chopped pork fat and the shallots to the bowl and mix thoroughly. Cover and put in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Lightly oil a baking tin pan and spread the pork mixture in it - it should feel springy. This is due to the potato starch.

4. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes, removing the foil for the last 10 minutes.

5. Slice the meat loaf into strips. Drizzle the strips with chili oil or hot chili sauce, and serve them hot with bread or noodles.

Note: Similar to the Vietnamese steamed pates, this type of meat loaf is usually served as a snack or light lunch, with a crusty baguette. Accompanied with either tart pickles or a crunchy salad, and splashed with piquant sauce, it is light and very tasty.

Cook's Tip: Serve the meat loaf as a nibble with drinks by cutting it into bite size squares or fingers.