Little cottage pies

Serves: 18 (makes 18 mini pies)

Time to make: 50 mins

Ingredients

500g lean beef mince
1 onion, chopped
¼ cup plain flourall purpose flourX
2 cups reduced-salt beef stock
1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables
½ teaspoon mixed herbs
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon reduced-salt soy sauce
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
900g potatoes, peeled
knob reduced-fat spread
⅓ cup warm skim milk
2 sheets reduced-fat frozen puff pastry
salt and pepper

$AVER recipes were costed at $5 or below at the time of publication. We are mindful that seasonal and regional availability and price fluctuations occur - click here for healthy shopping tips for greater savings.

Instructions

Stay Awake

In a medium saucepan brown the meat, add the chopped onion and cook till soft. Stir in the flour, then gradually mix in the stock. When all the stock is included add the vegetables, seasonings and sauces, a little salt and pepper and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring regularly.
While the mixture is cooking, prepare the potatoes for the topping as follows: peel the potatoes and place in a saucepan of cold water. Add the salt and bring to the boil. Simmer until the potatoes are soft. Drain, then return the pan of potatoes to the heat and dry them off completely. This helps produce fluffy mashed spuds. Mash them with a fork or potato masher until broken up, then add the low-fat spread. Continue mashing, adding enough warm milk to give a creamy consistency. I use a masher to start with then change to a fork to give the potatoes a final whip. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
To assemble the cottage pies, lightly grease a muffin pan (or pans) and line x 18 cups with pastry; if you can re-roll the trimmings, 2 sheets should be enough. Divide the meat mixture between the pans and top with the mashed potato. Press it into place with a fork or squeeze it through a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle. Bake in a preheated oven at 190°C for 15-20 minutes until pastry is crisp and potato is turning golden.

HFG tip

The perfect cutter for lining muffin pans with pastry is actually a 425g tuna tin. It’s worth making a fish pie just to get the tin!

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 141 cal

Kilojoules 590 kJ

Protein 9 g

Total fat 4 g

Saturated fat 2 g

Carbohydrates 15 g

Sugar 2 g

Dietary fibre 2 g

Sodium 260 mg

Calcium 20 mg

Iron 1.5 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.