This is an uncomplicated but delicious autumn and winter dinner. The nights are drawing in with astonishing rapidity and it’s the perfect time of year for your one-dish meat and potato combo.
I add ketchup and mustard to the filling, which is not very fancy but gives a pleasing tangyness to what might otherwise be a slightly bland dish.
Ingredients
Serves 3 or 4
450g minced beef
2 large potatoes
1 large onion
2 carrots
1 tbsp tomato puree and 1 tbsp ketchup, or 2 tbsp ketchup
1 tsp mustard. I use dijon mustard.
Worcestershire sauce
A little butter
Salt and pepper
The Cooking
Pre-heat the oven to 180c/350F.
Peel and slice the potatoes, but not too thinly otherwise they’ll turn into crisps. I don’t like giving exact measurements, but they want to be about half a centimetre thick. Put them in some water, bring to the boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. While they’re simmering peel and chop the onion and the carrots fairly small and set aside. When the potatoes are done, drain them and set them aside too.
Now, I admit I do faff about a little bit here. I thoroughly brown the mince, set it aside, then cook the onion and carrots in the same pan, then add the whole thing back together. But there is a good reason for this. You want to cook the meat on a high heat because if it’s not hot enough the meat will release all its water without it evaporating and rather than frying the mince, it stews in its own juices, which makes it rubbery and chewy. It also means that the onions and carrots will fry in the fat from the meat, so you don’t have to use any more oil and they’ll take on the flavour of the beef.
So. On a HIGH heat, fry the mince in a non-stick pan until it’s well browned – perhaps even crispy in places if you like it that way (I do). Then tip out the meat and set it aside. Turn down the heat and add the chopped onion and carrot. Fry them for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft but not burnt. Now re-add the meat and the mustard, tomatoe puree and/or ketchup, a few splashes of worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Fry it for a couple more minutes, stirring well so that the flavour is evenly distributed.
Put the meat mixture into the oven dish and top with the sliced potato, overlapping so that it’s evenly covered. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and dot it evenly with butter. You don’t need loads, just enough to moisten the potato.
Now it goes in the oven and you go and have a sit down for half an hour. After 30 minutes or so, the potato will be nicely browned. Serve it hot – it’s so good. I had mine with mangetout.
November 4, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I added a little flour when I was frying the beef and then about a cup of stock at the end to make it a little “saucier”. It worked. I also over cooked the potatoes, which didn’t seem to matter.
May 7, 2009 at 6:35 am
Thankyou going to cook this soon
July 27, 2009 at 5:22 pm
[…] […]
August 20, 2009 at 3:40 pm
it looks so tasty i am going to do it for tonights dinner i just hope it comes out as nice as it looks. looking forward to cooking this meal
December 2, 2009 at 4:07 pm
good base recipe, i then add little bit of stock, can of beans and some bay leaves, works a treat!
September 29, 2010 at 5:47 pm
B E A U TIFUL! I ADDED CHEESE WITH MINE AND A LITTLE BROWN SAUCE TO MIXTURE ….
December 21, 2010 at 3:02 pm
be a utiful
another way of re membering
December 21, 2010 at 3:00 pm
discusting ierrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
May 6, 2011 at 12:28 pm
i agree
September 20, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I added a little chopped swede and half a chopped green chilli plus half a teaspoon of sugar as I had no worcestershire sauce and it’s the best one I’ve cooked yet 🙂
September 20, 2011 at 5:54 pm
no cheese though – not a big fan of adding cheese to things
September 23, 2011 at 8:09 am
yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm the best
October 15, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Can’t wait to cook this tomorrow, gonna add carrots and swede and possibly peas to my mince, been looking everywhere for a recipe without cheese, thanks
October 21, 2011 at 9:18 pm
cooking this for my very fussy otherhalf 2moro and my two young children who eat almost anything!lol
I’m sure it will go down a treat sounds yummy!!:)
November 5, 2011 at 4:52 pm
i am using my left over beef stew gravy and veggies with some added mince, then am covering it with potatoes and a little cheese watch this space 😀
November 7, 2011 at 10:06 am
This sounds so lovely so I am going to try it tonight 🙂 have 2 fussy boys so hoping this will go down well 🙂 x
November 30, 2011 at 7:33 am
Magnificent publish, very informative. I ponder why the opposite experts of this sector do not understand this. You should proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!|What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & aid other users like its aided me. Good job.
May 9, 2012 at 9:52 am
Making this now but adapting it a little. Using carrot swede new potatoes onion AND mushroom in the filling to get as many veggies into my daughter as possible lol.
June 2, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Wow this is amazing. My stepmom always did the best and I wanted to know how to do it. This recipe is easy to follow and very easy to understand 🙂 thanks so much 🙂 xx
July 1, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Have you ever considered creating an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog based on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share
some stories/information. I know my subscribers would appreciate your work.
If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
July 3, 2013 at 5:32 am
Simply want to say your article is as amazing.
The clarity for your put up is simply great and that i could assume you are knowledgeable
on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to seize your feed to stay
up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please keep up the enjoyable work.
July 10, 2013 at 3:46 am
I blog often and I truly appreciate your information.
The article has truly peaked my interest. I will bookmark your site and keep checking for new information about once a week.
I opted in for your Feed too.
July 14, 2013 at 11:03 am
Hi there it’s me, I am also visiting this site daily, this site is genuinely good and the viewers are in fact sharing pleasant thoughts.
July 17, 2013 at 9:58 am
You can use the stock prices to track earnings. Short-term market behavior is generally based on
fear, enthusiasm, news, and rumors. Long-term market behavior is mainly comprised of company earnings.
These earnings can be used to determine whether or not
a stock’s price will rise, drop or go completely sideways.
__________________________________________________________________________
I study trend trading software
July 22, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written
article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information.
Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
July 24, 2013 at 6:50 pm
If all of these recommendations are followed and the recommendations of
foods not to eat are followed, the odds of
a healthy pregnancy are greatly improved. Disconnecting this 20 or
24-pin connector will cause the green light to turn off.
The most common place that people ground the amp is by running
a wire to one of the bolts that holds down the front seat.
July 26, 2013 at 10:50 pm
The major complaint that was issued was by a reviewer who thought that the product was a bit too pricey.
Being Lego there is of course a construction element to all the games and this is a great way to
get younger fans into game play beyond computers.
It is also a must to have a player and star wars disc, right size of projector screen for the
venue, multimedia projector, and remember also, do not forget good
ventilation.
December 21, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Thanks!!! Just cooked it and it was really nice 🙂 try using baby onions, sweet corn, red peppers, garlic and mushrooms to the mix then top with potato and sweet potato. Cooked it for the misses and got a smile on her chops
December 21, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Oh and peas
March 29, 2014 at 11:21 am
Everyone loves what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting!
Keep up the fantastic works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to our blogroll.
April 14, 2014 at 6:57 pm
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more
often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Excellent work!
May 18, 2014 at 9:43 am
Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of
your website is wonderful, as well as the content!
April 14, 2016 at 3:06 am
Especially informative, look forward to coming back.|
May 7, 2016 at 3:40 am
[…] Minced Beef and Onion Hotpot | 101 Things Every Cook … – Oct 08, 2007 · Minced Beef and Onion Hotpot … 450g minced beef 2 large potatoes 1 large onion 2 carrots 1 tbsp tomato puree and 1 tbsp ketchup, or 2 tbsp ketchup […]
February 19, 2017 at 6:08 pm
1st time I’ve cooked this dish and the 3 empty plates I got bk says it all 😀 It was yummy 👌