Although its name may suggest a roll of meat or cold cuts, meatloaf alla genovese is a completely vegetarian dish – made with zucchini, eggs and prescinseua, a typical Ligurian cheese. That means no meat – not even a little bit! Instead, this meatloaf features the glorious scents of spring with herbs like marjoram and parsley.
Ligurian prescinseua, the “quagliata” cheese made in Genoa Halfway between a yogurt and a slightly acidic ricotta cheese, prescinseua is a dairy product typical of the province of Genoa – made from cow's milk and veal rennet. The best known product that is prepared with this cheese is the famous focaccia di Recco. For a homemade version, leave two liters of milk at room temperature overnight with a drop of vinegar to allow for fermentation. The next morning, bring everything to a boil and then filter it with a cheesecloth. Your artisanal presinseua is ready! Use it for savory vegetable pies, walnut sauce or crepes.
The Recipe: Meatloaf alla Genovese
Ingredients:
3 lb zucchini, 2 ½ oz cheese, 1 white onion, Butter, Extra-virgin olive oil, Parsley, Marjoram, 4 eggs, Breadcrumbs, 2 oz grated Parmigiano cheese, Salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
First peel the onion and leave it in a bowl with cold water. In the meantime, clean the zucchini and cut them into cubes; transfer to a colander with a handful of salt. Leave the zucchini in the colander for about 40 minutes to remove excess water. Chop the onion and sauté in a pan with oil and butter. Once golden-brown, add the zucchini rinsed with salt. Let it cook for about 20 minutes and once are cooled, add chopped parsley, marjoram, cheese, beaten eggs, parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well and pour the mixture into a baking pan greased with oil. Level everything with a spatula and add a sprinkling of breadcrumbs and a drizzle of oil on top. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for about one hour.
Tips
You can make meatloaf alla genovese using other vegetables like green beans, spinach or
beets. In this case, first boil the vegetables and then chop them coarsely. If you want to use
artichokes, on the other hand, do not boil them! Just clean them, slice and sauté with the
onions.