The Filipino meatloaf

CEBU, Philippines — The word “meatloaf” may sound very non-Filipino. Well, in the first place, the word is obviously not Filipino. And perhaps the dish is not a Filipino original, either.

But the Filipino always finds a way of adopting anything foreign that he likes. If not that, the Filipino may just have his own version of something and does not have to copy from foreigners. Whichever is the case, there is a Filipino version of the meatloaf – the embutido.

Embutido is a staple Filipino dish for the holidays. But many homes do not limit their enjoyment of the embutido to a holiday. The dish maybe prepared in volume and stored in the refrigerator to last for several days or weeks. Then it may be enjoyed every day or anytime during the day while it lasts.

Many Filipino families have their own heirloom embutido recipes. Which may be taken to mean that the dish has been around in the country for quite a while already – “a while” meaning several generations. Yes, different embutido recipes would have their own twist to the dish. But as the saying goes, “an embutido is an embutido is an embutido.”

Embutido may be served fresh from the fridge or fresh from the frying pan. And while embutido is basically meatloaf, when the dish is called embutido the suggestion is that it’s homemade. Meatloaf is mainly understood as the commercial type found in supermarkets; embutido is the type that Mama or Lola makes.

Those that don’t have their own family recipe for embutido may try this one shared by Vanjo Merano at the website www.panlasangpinoy.com:

Embutido

Ingredients:

½ kg ground pork

6 pcs hotdogs, cut in half lengthwise

3 hard boiled eggs, sliced

½ cup sweet pickle relish

½ cup tomato sauce

2 pcs eggs

2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

1 cup red bell pepper, minced

1 cup green bell pepper, minced

1½ cup raisins

1 cup carrots, minced

1 cup onion, minced

salt and pepper

2 cups bread crumbs

Procedure:

1. Place the ground pork in a large container. Add the bread crumbs; then break the eggs and add it in. Mix well. (Note: To make bread crumbs, place slices of tasty bread in a food processor. If not using any food processor, just tear the bread to tiny pieces.)

2. Put-in the carrots, bell pepper (red and green), onion, pickle relish, and cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly. Add the raisins, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper then mix well.

3. Place the meat mixture in an aluminum foil and flatten it.

4. Put in the sliced hotdogs and boiled eggs alternately on the middle of the flat meat mixture. Roll the foil to form a cylinder, locking the hotdog and egg in the middle of the meat mixture. Once done, lock the edges of the foil.

5. Place in a steamer and let cook for one hour.

6. Place inside the refrigerator until temperature turns cold.

Slice and serve. This recipe serves six persons.

Embutido may be eaten either warm or cold. It’s a good appetizer when cold, and a main dish to enjoy with white rice when warm. Some people prefer to have banana ketchup as dip for their embutido.