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Mince on toast
New Zealand's savoury beef mince with peas on hot buttered toast
Mince on toast is pure Kiwi comfort: a weeknight tea in homes from Invercargill to Auckland, and lately a proud fixture on café brunch menus, where it comes with a poached egg on top. Beef mince is browned hard, simmered with onion, grated carrot and a glug of Worcestershire sauce into a thick savoury gravy, then finished with peas and piled onto buttered toast. It's quick, cheap and kids love it. The usual mistake is stirring the mince constantly in a crowded pan, so it steams grey instead of browning; let it sit and catch colour. Chef's tip: grate the carrot instead of chopping it; it melts into the gravy and sweetens it without anyone noticing the vegetables.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the mince
To serve
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add 1 ⅛ lb beef mince, press it flat and leave it alone for 3 minutes until a dark crust forms underneath, then break it up and fry for 3 minutes more, until browned all over with no pink left.
6 minStep 2: Turn the heat to medium, add 1 onion, 1 carrot and 2 cloves garlic and cook for 4 minutes, until the onion softens.
4 minStep 3: Stir in 1 tbsp plain flour and 1 tbsp tomato paste for 1 minute, then add 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce and 1 ¼ cups beef stock. Simmer for 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until the gravy is thick and glossy. The mince should reach 160°F.
9 minStep 4: Stir in 5 ½ oz frozen peas and cook for 3 minutes until hot. Season with ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp ground black pepper.
3 minStep 5: Meanwhile, toast 4 thick slices of bread and spread with 1 oz butter. Put a slice on each plate, spoon the mince over and scatter with 1 tbsp fresh parsley. Leftover mince keeps in the fridge for 2 days; reheat until steaming hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 540 kcal
- Protein
- 33 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 29 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mince on toast take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 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 carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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