INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 3/4 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
- about 1/4 lb deli ham
- 12-15 large basil leaves
- 1 1/4 cup either shredded mozzarella cheese
- marinara sauce
- cooked pasta or zucchini noodles, if desired
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Add onion and red pepper.
Sauté for about 5 minutes, until onions are translucent.
Add garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant.
Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, bread crumbs, parmesan, eggs, tomato paste, salt, pepper, parsley and vegetable mixture.
With your hands, mix until everything is well combined.
Take a large sheet of parchment paper and lay it out on the counter.
Place your meat mixture in the center.
Pat mixture out to form a rectangle about 8″x15″.
Top rectangle with a layer of ham, a layer of basil and then a layer of cheese, leaving a 1 inch border all around.
Starting at the 8 inch end, roll the meatloaf up, jelly roll style, using the parchment paper to help guide you.
Press down on top seam to seal and press the ends together to seal as well.
Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 1 hour in preheated oven.
Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Serve topped with pasta or zucchini noodles, if desired and top with marinara sauce.
