Caribou Meatloaf- Chinese Style

Meatloaf meets the Far East, and it works way better than you’d expect.

Ground caribou and pork get mixed with cooked rice, soy sauce, Chinese five spice powder, and a hit of cayenne, then shaped into a loaf and baked until browned and bubbling.

Chopped radish greens folded into the mix add a peppery, herbaceous bite that plays off the warm five spice beautifully.

It’s hearty, a little unexpected, and the kind of recipe that makes good use of what the land and the garden give you.

Kitchen Tips

• The ground pork adds necessary fat. Caribou on its own is so lean the loaf will turn dry and crumbly without it.
• Radish greens taste similar to cilantro and cook down nicely. If you can’t find them, swap in chopped cilantro or even mustard greens.
• Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes after pulling it from the oven. The juices redistribute and it slices cleanly instead of falling apart.
• Go easy on the five spice. A quarter teaspoon is plenty since it’s concentrated and can overwhelm everything else fast.