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Mince and tatties

Scottish savoury beef mince with boiled potatoes

Mince and tatties is the weekday tea of Scottish homes and school canteens, so familiar that 'mince' is Scots slang for nonsense. Beef mince is browned and simmered with onion, carrot and a little oatmeal to thicken, then served with plain boiled or mashed potatoes and often peas. Chef's tip: brown the mince in batches until it crackles and turns properly brown; grey mince gives a flat flavour.
Total time
60 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Fresh ingredients (5)

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pan over a high heat and brown the 1 ⅛ lb beef mince in two batches for 5 minutes each, breaking it up.

    10 min
  2. Step 2: Add the 1 onion and 2 carrots and cook 5 minutes, then stir in the 2 tbsp medium oatmeal. Add the 1 ¾ cups beef stock, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.

    6 min
  3. Step 3: Simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick and the carrots are soft; the mince should reach 160°F. A common mistake is letting it dry out; add a splash of water if needed.

    30 min
  4. Step 4: Meanwhile boil the 2 lb potatoes in salted water for 20 minutes until tender, and cook the 7 oz frozen peas for the last 3 minutes. Drain.

    20 min
  5. Step 5: Serve the mince spooned beside the tatties and peas.

    1 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
520 kcal
Protein
32 g
Carbs
42 g
Fat
24 g
Fibre
5 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does mince and tatties take?
About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
What can I use instead of onion?
2 shallots per onion.
What can I use instead of carrots?
Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.

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