TURKEY MEATLOAF

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground turkey (85% lean is best)
1 medium onion
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 egg
1/4 cup olive oil
2 slices white sandwich bread
Salt
Pepper


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set aside.

2. Chop onion into a medium dice. Place a 10 inch skillet over medium high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When oil shimmers, add onion and cook until translucent, 5-8 minutes. Add dried thyme and red pepper flakes and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Take off heat and allow to cool completely.

3. In a food processor, pulse the white sandwich bread with 10 1-second pulses, then allow machine to run for 30 seconds until fine crumbs (anything bigger and the meatloaf won't hold together).

4. In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, egg, and olive oil. Add bread crumbs and cooled onions. Season with salt and pepper (I use three pinches of salt and roughly a 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.) Mix with hands until a cohesive mass forms. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and shape into a log, 6 inches wide and 10 inches long. Smooth to prevent cracking.*

5. Bake on middle rack for 30 minutes, rotating after 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes (cut into it while super hot and it will break apart). Serve.

*NOTE: Have a bowl of water ready to wet hands to help with shaping the loaf. The water will help the meat not to stick to your hands and you can smooth out the top. Any crack in the surface will encourage moisture leakage, which will create a dry turkey loaf.