Meatloaf is not the prettiest dish but it is homely and incredibly satisfying, a meal that will feed the whole family and hopefully give you some leftovers, too. In fact, like so many Florentine dishes, this is better the day after it is cooked. Those in the know actually wait until the next day to serve it, because when it’s sliced cool it tends to crumble less. Some like to brush egg white over the loaf to help hold it together.
Serve polpettone in thick slices with a generous dollop of tomato sauce heaped over the top, some crusty Tuscan bread and a green salad or some spinach sautéed with some garlic and olive oil.