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Leberkäse

A traditional Bavarian baked meat loaf made from finely processed pork and spices. It bakes into a warm, savory loaf with a golden crust.

85 minMediumServes 8340 cal/serving

GermanDinnerOven and BlenderHigh ProteinLow CarbGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreeAlcohol-Free

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Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs ground pork shoulder, chilled
  • 0.5 lb ground pork belly, chilled
  • 1 cup crushed ice
  • 1/2 tsp Prague powder #1 curing salt
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
  • 1/4 tsp ground mace
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a standard loaf pan with oil or cooking spray.

  2. 2

    Combine 1.5 lbs chilled ground pork shoulder, 0.5 lb chilled ground pork belly, 1/2 tsp Prague powder #1 curing salt, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp ground white pepper, 1/2 tsp dried marjoram, 1/4 tsp ground mace, and 2 tbsp cornstarch in a food processor.

  3. 3

    Pulse the mixture while gradually adding 1 cup crushed ice until a smooth, emulsified meat paste forms.

  4. 4

    Transfer the meat paste into the loaf pan, smooth the top, and score a crosshatch pattern on top with a wet knife.

  5. 5

    Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 160 degrees F.

  6. 6

    Let cool for 10 minutes, then slice thick and serve warm.

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Questions

What is Leberkäse?

A traditional Bavarian baked meat loaf made from finely processed pork and spices. It bakes into a warm, savory loaf with a golden crust. This reference files it under German dinner: made in the oven and in a blender, rated medium and about 85 minutes start to finish.

What oven temperature does Leberkäse need?

For Leberkäse, the oven is set to 325 F (about 165 C) in step 1. The longest stretch at that heat is 1 hour, in step 5. The target internal temperature is 160 F (about 70 C), given in step 5. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Do I need any special equipment for Leberkäse?

Beyond a knife and a board, the method uses a food processor (step 2), a probe thermometer (step 5) and a loaf pan (step 1). If you do not have one, a sharp knife and patience, or a blender in short pulses, stands in for the food processor.

Can I use ground chicken or turkey instead of ground pork in Leberkäse?

Yes. Use dark-meat ground chicken or turkey if you can, and add a teaspoon of oil per half pound, since pork brings fat that poultry does not. As written, the entry for Leberkäse uses 1.5 lbs ground pork shoulder, chilled.

Is Leberkäse gluten-free?

Yes. As written, nothing in the ingredient list for Leberkäse is wheat, barley or rye. Gluten hides in packaged goods, so read the label on the cornstarch.

How many calories are in Leberkäse?

One serving (the recipe makes 8) is about 340 calories, with 18 g protein, 2 g carbohydrate and 29 g fat, plus 820 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Serve it with

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