Meatloaf with Wild Chanterelle and Cognac Cream Sauce

This recipe was a favorite of my clients when I was a personal chef years ago and of course the original recipe was redesigned to be low-carb. This recipe is large enough to serve at a dinner party as well or you can just enjoy great leftovers the next day. I took simple meatloaf, something so familiar to everyone, and turned it into a gourmet style meatloaf that is moist and full of flavor. I paired it with wild chanterelle mushrooms and cognac in a creamy sauce. Chanterelle mushrooms can be purchased dried and be reconstituted right in the sauce. Fresh chanterelles are only available for a short time each year and are quite expensive but a small package of the dried will go a long way for your sauce. I hope you enjoy.

Meatloaf with Wild Chanterelle and Cognac Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

Meatloaf:

2 Tbsp. shallots, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. thyme

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 lb. lean ground veal

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 egg

2 Tbsp. heavy cream

black pepper

Sauce:

4 Tbsp. shallots, minced

1 tsp. thyme

2 cups low sodium beef stock

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup dried chanterelle mushrooms, about 14 grams or 1/2 ounce package, rinsed to remove any grit and rough chopped

1/4 cup cognac

2 Tbsp. heavy cream

1 tsp. unsalted butter

black pepper

fresh parsley to taste, chopped

Preheat oven to 350'

Preheat a small saute pan and add about half the olive oil. Saute the shallots, garlic and thyme on medium heat until caramelized, seasoning to taste with black pepper. Set aside to cool. While the shallots are cooling place the rest of the ingredients into a large bowl. Add the cooled shallots and using a fork, blend the ingredients together well. The fork will keep the mixture light and not pack it down so it stays moist and tender when cooking. Fill loaf pan or two mini loaf pans with meat mixture and gently smooth the top. Place on a sheet pan that has been lined with aluminum foil. Bake for between 30 and 35 minutes for the mini loaf pans and about 45 minutes or so for the larger loaf pan. The internal temperature should be about 155' when you remove it from the oven and let it rest. As it rests it will continue to cook a bit and it will reach 160'. There may be lots of juices released from the mixture in the pan so remove meatloaf carefully.

Wild Chanterelle and Cognac Cream Sauce

To prepare the sauce, using the same saute pan on medium heat, add the remaining olive oil and saute the shallots and thyme until tender. Add the beef stock, water and chanterelle mushrooms. Bring to a simmer, lower the heat to medium low and reduce the liquids by about half. The mushrooms will reconstitute as the liquids reduce and they will release their flavor. Remove pan from the heat and add the cognac and heavy cream. Return to heat, season with black pepper and simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the butter to finish the sauce. The sauce will thicken slightly. Finish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve with meatloaf.

Nutrition Facts

8 Servings of 3 Ounces Meatloaf and 2 Tablespoons of Sauce

Amount Per Serving
Calories 254.3
Total Fat 15.8 g
Saturated Fat 6.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 6.6 g
Cholesterol 106.0 mg
Sodium 268.8 mg
Potassium 378.8 mg
Total Carbohydrate 3.1 g
Dietary Fiber 0.3 g
Sugars 0.0 g
Protein 19.1 g