‘Falscher Hase’ German Meat Loaf

If you’re looking for a way to use up those last leftover hard boiled Easter eggs, I have just the recipe for you! “Falscher Hase” – a typical German recipe which translates as “false hare” – is a special kind of meat loaf. It apparently takes its name from post-war times, when housewives cooking on rations wanted to make something special and wrapped whatever meat they had around eggs and formed a loaf resembling the shape of a hare or rabbit, which was a highly prized meat.

Ingredients:
(serves 4-6)

• 500g mince meat (half pork half beef works best, but either will do)
• 50g fine bread crumbs (I use gluten free but regular is fine too)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
• pinch of salt
• a good helping of cracked black pepper
• 1 raw egg
• 3 hard boiled eggs
• 1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions:

Pre-heat your oven to 200 C.

Step 1: In a bowl, mash all the ingredients (except for the butter and hard boiled eggs) together until well mixed – I just use my hands for this. Then lay out some cellophane paper and with wet hands spread out the meat on top to a square of about 25 x 25 cm.

Step 2: Peel the hard boiled eggs and arrange them down the middle of your square of meat, as shown above.

Step 3: Fold the edges of the meat over to encase the eggs and mould the whole thing in to a loaf shape.

Step 4: Transfer your loaf on to a baking tray lined with grease proof paper and brush it all over with the melted butter.

Step 5: Bake the meat loaf in the oven for 45 minutes. Then turn off the oven and leave the loaf inside for another 15 minutes.

Step 6: Cut the loaf in to slices to serve. Tastes great with salted potatoes and green peas.