Cottage Pie With Hidden Veggies Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over a medium heat in a large pan.
• Add the minced beef and brown.
• Add the onions and continue to cook until translucent (approx 4 mins).
• Add the caremalised balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce, garlic, celery salt, all purpose seasoning, thyme and parsley and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
• Add the red wine and continute to cook until the liquid is absorbed.
• Add the grated zucchini and carrot and cook for a further 2 or 3 minutes.
• Crumble in the stock cubes, add the boiling water then stir it in together.
• Add the tomato puree, bay leaf and salt and pepper to taste.
• Continue to simmer on a low heat, you may need to add a little more water.
• Meanwhile, place the pumkin, potatoes and sweet potato into a separate pan and cover with cold water.
• Bring to the boil and simmer until tender.
• Drain the potato/sweet potato/pumpkin and mash - as the pumpkin tends to retain water the best way to mash it is using a ricer so you can squeeze the water out at the start of each press.
• Add the butter to the potato mix and season to taste.
• Remove the bay leaves from the minced beef mix and spoon the mixture into a shallow 2 quart dish.
• Add the potato mix over the top of the beef mixture, spread evenly then rough up the top using the back of a fork.
• Place under a hot grill for 4 minutes.

Steps:

• To make the sauce, heat 50g butter in a pan, then gently fry 2 chopped onions, 4 diced carrots, 1 chopped head of celery and 4 finely chopped garlic cloves for 15 mins until soft and golden.
• Turn up the heat, add 200g sliced chestnut mushrooms, then cook for 4 mins more.
• Stir in 2 bay leaves and 1 tbsp dried thyme, then add 500g green lentils. Pour over 100ml red wine and 1.7l vegetable stock - it's important that you do not season with salt at this stage.
• Simmer for 40-50 mins until the lentils are very soft.
• Season to taste, take off heat, then stir in 3 tbsp tomato purée.
• While the lentils are cooking, tip 2kg floury potatoes into a pan of water, then boil for about 15 mins until tender. Drain well, mash with 85g butter and 100ml milk, then season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble the pies, divide the lentil mixture between all the dishes that you are using, then top with mash.
• Scatter over 50g grated cheddar and freeze for up to two months or if eating that day, heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5, then bake for 30 mins until the topping is golden.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a pot of salted water bring potatoes, carrots, and 3 cloves garlic to a boil. Reduce to a rapid simmer; cook until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Using a masher, mash vegetables until mostly smooth; stir in 3 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper. Finely chop remaining 2 cloves garlic; set aside.
• In a large skillet over high, melt remaining tablespoon butter. Add beef and brown, about 5 minutes. Remove meat from pan, leaving drippings. Reduce heat to medium-high, add onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add chopped garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Return meat and collected juices to pan and stir in tomato paste. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer meat mixture to a 9-inch square baking dish. Dollop mashed vegetables over meat and spread to edges of baking dish. Bake until juices are bubbling and topping is golden brown in spots, about 20 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, lidded frying pan or flameproof casserole dish. Cook the aubergine, in two batches, over a high heat for 4-5 mins until golden, adding extra oil as you need to. Return all the aubergine to the pan with the garlic, tomatoes and 1 1/2 tsp oregano and cook for 1 min. Stir in the spinach, put the lid on the pan and leave for a few mins to wilt.
• Add the flour and stir through until combined. Pour in the milk, stir gently and bring to the boil. Bubble for a few mins, then stir in the cheese and season. Cook until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened.
• Mix the mash with the remaining oregano and spread over the filling. Scatter over a little more grated cheese and bake for 10-15 mins until golden.