This vegetarian ‘Neat Loaf’ is a family favorite that even meat-eaters will love. It’s incredibly easy to make, and with under 8 grams of saturated fat in the entire loaf, it’s a fantastic, high-protein option for a healthy meal.
This recipe uses a simple combination of corn flakes, walnuts, cottage cheese, eggs, and an onion soup mix to create a savory, satisfying loaf. It takes just 5 minutes to prepare and about an hour to bake.
Growing up in the 1970’s, Sunday was always a meat-centric family dinner night. We would all sit around the table talking about the week ahead eating some sort of roast or meatloaf. I always wondered if the heavy meal was a ploy by my Mom to get me to go to bed on time because I’d be sleepy from a full stomach. I still love the Sunday night tradition of sitting down with my family to check-in with each other (phone free), but now we skip the meat. Here’s a vegetarian ‘Neat Loaf’ recipe that we’ve enjoyed for years and it’s now one of my daughter’s favorites. Meat-free, high in protein, yet very satisfying – even my meat-loving friends love this. It’s also super easy as all of the ingredients can be mixed in one bowl, dumped in a greased bread loaf pan and then baked.
Easy and Delicious Vegetarian ‘Neat Loaf’
Yields: 6-8 servings Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 65 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 (16-ounce) carton of cottage cheese
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1 (1-ounce) envelope of dry onion soup mix (Lipton works well)
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional, but adds great texture)
- 1 white or yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 to 2 1/2 cups corn flakes or Special K cereal
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease or spray a glass bread loaf pan. (A glass pan is recommended for a better bake, but a metal one will also work.)
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, beaten eggs, vegetable oil, onion soup mix, chopped walnuts (if using), and chopped onion. Mix everything together until well combined.
- Add the corn flakes or Special K to the bowl and gently stir until the cereal is evenly incorporated. Use corn flakes for a lighter-colored loaf or Special K for a darker result.
- Firmly pack the mixture into the prepared loaf pan, patting it down to remove any large air gaps.
- Bake for 65 minutes. The loaf is done when the top is firm and springy to the touch, with no wet spots or pools of liquid. If it’s still soft, return it to the oven for another 5-10 minutes.
Suggested Wine Pairings
To complement the savory flavor of this loaf, consider a dry wine.
- White Wine: A crisp Pinot Gris (especially from Oregon) is a great choice.
- Red Wine: A light-bodied Pinot Noir (also from Oregon) pairs wonderfully.
