Hidden Lentil Cottage Pie
Hearty, comforting, and packed with a few extra good things.6-8 servings
Ingredients (6-8 servings)
Filling
- 500g beef mince
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional)
- 2 x 400g cans brown lentils, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried mixed herbs or thyme
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- Oil for cooking
Mash
- 5 to 6 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 2 tbsp butter
- Approx. ½ cup milk
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup grated cheese for topping (optional)
Method
- 1Make the mash first, add potatoes to a pot of salted water and boil until tender. Drain well, then mash with butter, milk and a little salt. Set aside.
- 2Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef mince and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain off any excess fat.
- 3Add the diced onion and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add garlic if using.
- 4Hide the lentils: Blend the drained brown lentils until mostly smooth. Add a splash of stock or water if needed to help them blend. Note, you don't have to blend the lentils if your whānau are happy with the texture. Blending them just makes them disappear into the mince and hides them from the kids 🙂
- 5Stir the blended lentils into the mince, then add the frozen vegetables.
- 6Stir through the tomato paste, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and dried herbs. Season with salt and pepper.
- 7Let the mixture simmer gently for around 10 to 15 minutes so the flavours come together.
- 8Mix the flour with a splash of cold water to make a smooth slurry, then stir it through the filling. Cook for another couple of minutes until thickened.
- 9Spoon the filling into a baking dish and spread the mashed potato evenly over the top. Rough up the surface with a fork, then sprinkle with grated cheese if using.
- 10Bake at 200°C for around 20 to 25 minutes, until piping hot and golden on top. For extra colour, pop it under the grill for the final few minutes.
Serve with
Steamed greens, broccoli or simply on its own.
Freezer tip
Let the cottage pie cool completely, then cover and freeze for up to 3 months. You can freeze it as one large pie or portion it into individual containers for easy dinners.