Savoury Mince Recipe

Name: Savoury Mince
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: New Zealand
Ingredients: 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 500 g beef mince; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 1 large carrot, grated; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tbsp plain flour; 400 ml beef stock; 2 tbsp tomato sauce (ketchup); 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tsp dried mixed herbs; 150 g frozen peas; ½ tsp fine salt; ½ tsp ground black pepper; Buttered toast or mashed potato, to serve

Why This Savoury Mince Recipe Works

Savoury mince is one of the most common weeknight dinners in New Zealand and Australia, and it is the sort of dish that nobody writes down because everybody's mother made it. Beef mince is browned with onion and carrot, simmered in a thick brown gravy seasoned with tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and finished with a handful of peas. That is it, and the simplicity is the point. It costs very little, it feeds a family, and it goes a long way, because it can be spooned over thick slices of buttered toast, piled onto mashed potato, used to fill a baked potato, or stuffed into a pie case or pastry. In Britain the same dish appears as mince on toast, and it belongs to the same family as the shepherd's pie filling, although it is thicker and less rich. A few things make it better than the plain version. Browning the mince properly, in a hot pan and in two batches, gives it a deeper savour than steaming it in its own juices. A spoon of flour thickens the gravy without a separate roux, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce adds the depth that people always notice but never identify. Grated carrot melts into the sauce so the mince tastes sweet without extra sugar, and the peas, added at the end, keep their colour and freshness.

How to Make Savoury Mince

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Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the mince in two batches, and cook each for 6 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it is deeply browned. Push it to one side.
Add the onion and carrot to the pan and cook for 6 minutes, stirring, until soft. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, then gradually stir in the stock. Add the tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, salt and pepper.
Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until the gravy is thick and glossy.
Stir in the peas and cook for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve over buttered toast or mashed potato.

Tips for Making Savoury Mince

Brown the mince in batches. In an overcrowded pan it steams and turns grey, and it will not develop the savoury flavour.
Grate the carrot finely. It dissolves into the gravy and gives the mince a natural sweetness.
Thin the gravy with a splash of stock if it gets too thick as it cooks, or simmer it for a few more minutes if it is too runny.

Common Substitutions & Variations

An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

What to Serve with Savoury Mince

Thick buttered toast
Creamy mashed potato
Steamed green beans

Storing & Reheating Savoury Mince

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezes very well for up to 3 months, which makes it a good batch-cooking dish. Reheat gently with a splash of water.

Savoury Mince FAQ: Common Questions

How long does Savoury Mince take to make?

About 1 hour in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Savoury Mince?

Brown the mince in batches. In an overcrowded pan it steams and turns grey, and it will not develop the savoury flavour. Grate the carrot finely. It dissolves into the gravy and gives the mince a natural sweetness. Thin the gravy with a splash of stock if it gets too thick as it cooks, or simmer it for a few more minutes if it is too runny.

What should I serve with Savoury Mince?

Thick buttered toast; Creamy mashed potato; Steamed green beans.

Can Savoury Mince be made ahead or frozen?

Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezes very well for up to 3 months, which makes it a good batch-cooking dish. Reheat gently with a splash of water.

Is Savoury Mince suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is dairy-free, low-carb and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Savoury Mince?

About 364 kcal per serving, with 28 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate and 20 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Savoury Mince Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

364Calories

28gProtein

18gCarbs

20gFat

4gFibre

8gSugar

710mgSodium

Dairy-Free Low-Carb No Added Sugar

Savoury Mince

How to Make Savoury Mince

Tips for Making Savoury Mince

Common Substitutions & Variations

What to Serve with Savoury Mince

Storing & Reheating Savoury Mince

Savoury Mince FAQ: Common Questions

Savoury Mince Nutrition

Reader Reviews

Cooked this? Leave a review

How to Make Savoury Mince

Tips for Making Savoury Mince

Common Substitutions & Variations

What to Serve with Savoury Mince

Storing & Reheating Savoury Mince

Savoury Mince FAQ: Common Questions

Savoury Mince Nutrition

Reader Reviews

Cooked this? Leave a review

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