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Lots of people buy steak but minced beef is not just more economical but
more versatile for saving time and money. I always buy good quality
mince - there's no point paying less per kilo if it's just bulked out by
fat and gristle. There are much better ways of making your meat go
further.
Basic beef mince & onions
So many recipes are based on this and you can turn it into lots of
different meals. I usually cook it in bulk so we have convenient
leftovers for a day or two, or freeze in meal-size portions. Almost
all mince meals taste better the next day.
Quantities and ingredients vary with what's available and
your own taste. There are no rules.
- Fry a chopped online in oil, stirring so it doesn't burn (I
prefer olive oil). When the onion is transparent, add garlic, chopped celery or
carrot if you want to. Fry for a little longer.
- Add the mince and fry till brown. Use a fork, spatula etc to
keep it moving and break up. (If you have lots of fat, pour it off
and buy better mince next time)
- Add some liquid. This can be a jar or can of tomatoes, a bit of
leftover red wine, water, beef stock etc. A spoonful or two of
tomato paste is good.
- Add some mixed herbs (fresh or
dried).
- Allow to simmer (bubble gently) for 30 minutes or more.
Variations on the night:
Standard mince and onions or Bolognese are the most versatile if you
are planning to use variations on the leftovers.
- More tomato and some red wine and you have Bolognese sauce.
- Leave out the wine, add curry powder (at the garlic stage being
careful not to burn it)
- Add peppers and a tin of kidney beans and you have Chilli con
carne
Variations and ways with leftovers:
Even the smallest amount of left-over cooked mince can be useful in
creating a meal.
- You can add any of the ingredients above. Bulk out if need be
with extra vegetables. Frozen green peas go well with curry.
- Buy frozen puff pastry and make a pie. Not only will it taste so
much better than the pies you buy, a small amount of filling can go
a long way.
- If you've only got a bit of filling, make pastry parcels
instead. Make a variety, use the meat for some, cheese and tomato,
spinach and feta etc for others. Cut a square of puff pastry into
two rectangles to make long tubes, or cut diagonally to make
triangles.
- Just heat it up and have it on toast with a bit of sauce
(tomato, Worcestershire etc).
More Ways to Produce Great Meals on a Budget
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