Turkey Meatloaf with Roasted Red Pepper-Tomato Relish

Meatloaf: the ultimate comfort food. You either love it or hate it, right?

My family falls into the "love it" category (with the exception of Picky Teenage Son, who refuses to eat mixtures of any sort). I have several meatloaf recipes that the majority of us enjoy, including an Italian Meatloaf (ground beef, crumbled Italian sausage, parmesan cheese and marinara sauce make it really flavorful); a Skinny Meatloaf made of ground beef and ground turkey with a ketchup-mustard glaze; and Ina Garten's Turkey Meatloaf , a regular on the rotation around here. Clients request meatloaf frequently, too, so I'm always on the lookout for something new.

This recipe caught my husband's eye in good old Cook This, Not That, so I gave it a trial run. It was hands down the most flavorful turkey meatloaf we've ever had (sorry, Ina). I prepared the relish a day ahead, using canned tomatoes instead of fresh, which worked very well. We ate leftovers for a couple of days, and then I froze the remaining slices for lunches or dinners in the near future.

Turkey Meatloaf with Roasted Red Pepper-Tomato Relish
Serves 8

recipe adapted from Cook This, Not That, by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding

Relish:
1 T. olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can petite diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Meatloaf:

1 T. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 pounds ground turkey (93% lean)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary1/2 - 1 cup dry bread crumbs
2 eggs, lightly beaten

To make the relish, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion for about 10 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the tomatoes, ketchup and Worcestershire and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. (relish can be made a day in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.)

When ready to make the meatloaf, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion for about 6 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of the prepared relish along with the freshly sauteed onion and garlic and the rest of the ingredients for the meatloaf. Gently mix with your hands until everything is blended.

Turn the bowl over and let the meat mixture fall out onto a baking dish. Form it into a loaf shape and cover the top with half of the remaining relish.

Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees. Let cool at least 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with remaining relish.