Meat Loaf

Ahh.. Eid-Ul Adha has just been over!It has gifted us with so much happy memories accompanied by delicious feasts cooked by our loved ones. However, our refrigerator does still contain a large amount of beef, so why not make something with it? Try making this delicious meat loaf, which can be served with bread, paratha or as a sandwich (just add some cheese in it and grill)! This dish belongs to none other than the very great "Siddika Kabir", who had always been my second-most inspiration, when it comes to cooking.  Try making it and enjoy!

Required Ingredients:

Minced Beef: 1 kilograms

Bread (cut in small cubes with edges removed): 1 cup

Onion (diced): 3/4 cup

Black Pepper powder: 1/4 tsp

Tomato sauce: 3/4 cup

Mustard powder: 1 tsp

Salt: as per taste

Egg: 2

Green chillies: 5 to 6 or as much as you prefer! (chopped)

Coriander leaves(optional): 2 tsp (chopped)

[**You can bring variations to it by adding curry leaves to it!I use about 1/2 tsp of curry leaves to the mixture as well, to enhance its flavor further and re-create it in my own style.**]

Required Instructions:

1.  Drain the excess water from minced beef.
2. In a bowl, soak the bread cubes in little water to soften it, enough to let it combine in the mixture well. 
3. In a large bowl, add the beef, the wet bread cubes, onions, chillies, black pepper powder, mustard powder,  1/2 cup tomato sauce, salt, and egg. Now combine them well, after adding coriander leaves and let it rest for half an hour at room temperature. The idea to let the mixture rest is to let the flavors combine within themselves.
4.  After half an hour, preheat oven for 180 degree-Celsius and grease a square cake tin with some oil. Pour the mixture on the cake tin and even it out. Pat with you clean dry hands and make sure the sides of the cake tin are filled well with the mixture and even it out as well. Now spread the rest 1/4 cup tomato sauce on the top.
5. Pop it into the oven and let it bake for the next 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours. The time to bake is an approximate figure as the different oven has different temperatures and takes different time to cook. When you think your loaf is ready, check it with a knife in the center, if it comes out clean, your meat loaf is ready.
6. Let it cool and cut it in squares or in your desired shape and enjoy the loaf!

[Source: Recipe from Ranna, Khaddo, Pushti by Prof, Siddika Kabir]