Cottage Pie (quorn or soya mince for veggie option)

This is a very easy quick to make recipe. It is what I like to call "all in one" dishes with vegetables, meat/soya and mash together in one. With a side salad this is a very filling and comforting meal.

You will need
400 gms Beef mince or Quorn mince or soya mince or chicken mince
1 onion finely chopped
2 tomatoes finely chopped
1 tin Carrots (or mixed vegetables)
1 tin green peas
2 stalks of green onions finely chopped
1 stalk of celery finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic crushed
2 packets instant mash
salt and black pepper to taste
1 spring of thyme
2 tbsp tomato purée or ketchup
1 tbsp oil
Beef/vegetable stock 250 ml (100 ml if using soya/quorn mince)



Heat oil in a heavy sauce pan, add onions, garlic, green onions and celery and sauté for 2 mins until onion turns transparent. Add beef mince and cook for a further 3 mins to brown. If using quorn, or soya mince, cook just for a min to thoroughly mix. Add the tomatoes, purée, stock, salt, pepper and thyme. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add carrots and peas and cook for a further 10 mins. For quorn/soya mince simmer for 5 mins, add carrots and peas and cook for a further 10 mins. Prepare the mash by following the instructions on the packet. Spoon the cooked mince into an oven proof dish. Top with the mash and bake for 30 minutes at 200 degree Celsius (400 degree Fahrenheit) until the top is golden brown. Dig in and enjoy.

My Anjalie loves to eat her cottage pie with a big (adult-size) spoon. This is a great way to put together, veggies and meat in the same dish and takes less time than the traditional recipe, thanks to the instant mash! It goes great with some nice home-made chips. Happy enjoying a great meal together!