Who invented meatloaf and meatballs?
Meatloaf has been around since ancient times. Many cultures mix ground meats with grains and seasonings to produce a solid “loaf” or ball. From http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodmeats.ht… : “Who invented meatloaf, why & when? Good question! Food historians tell us from Ancient times to present cooks have been mixing ground meat with minced bread/rice/vegetables, spices, thickeners and serving them with sauce. For what reasons? 1. To distribute meat to more people (protein economy) 2. To conserve resources (use it up, don’t throw it out) 3. To make tough meat more palatable (aid digestion) Early ground (finely chopped or minced) molded meat recipes concentrated on sausages in skin casings, meat fritters (similar to meatballs), rissoles, hashes, terrines, and croquettes. The meat employed in these early recipes was usually already cooked, as opposed to the raw meat typically used by Americans to make meat loaf today.
