Ham Loaf with Mashed Sweet Potato Topping

By davidv

Don't spend any more time looking up ham recipes for ideas on how to use this year's Easter leftovers—I've got a Ham Loaf with Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe for you!

Tip: Being careful not to over mix the meatloaf mixture is an important step—when you over mix, the meatloaf becomes tough and heavy.

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 lbs ground pork
• 3/4 lb ham, finely ground in a food processor
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 3/4 cup minced onions
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp salt
• 1-1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp orange zest
• 2 tsp chopped sage
• 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1” pieces
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 Tbsp butter
• Pinch of cayenne

Preparation

Step 1

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray, or use a nonstick muffin pan.

Using your hands, mix together the ground pork, ham, breadcrumbs, eggs, onions, garlic, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, Dijon mustard, orange zest, and sage in a medium-size bowl, being careful not to over mix. Divide the mixture and roll into 12 balls, and place 1 ball in each muffin cup. Press the meat mixture into the muffin cups, leaving a slightly rounded top. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

While the meatloaves are baking, prepare the sweet potato topping. Place the sweet potatoes in a medium-size saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a high simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10–15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and place them in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the heavy cream, butter, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and the pinch of cayenne. Whip the potatoes with a wire whip attachment until smooth, and then place the mixture into a pastry bag with no tip.

Remove the cooked ham loaves from the muffin pan and place them on a serving platter. Pipe the sweet potato topping onto of each of the loaves in an upward spiral. Serve immediately.