Ingredients
- 500 grams beef mince
- 500 grams mashed potatoes
- pinch nutmeg
- ½ cup gravy
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon mixed herbs
- ½ lemon, rind only, grated
- 1 onion, cooked, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, cooked, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the beef mince and stir until its browned all over.
- Transfer the beef mince to a mixing bowl. Add the gravy, carrot, onion, nutmeg, herbs, salt, pepper and lemon rind. Mix until combined.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish. Pile on the mashed potato and spread to cover it. Brush with the melted butter.
- Brown the potato pie in the oven at 180 °C for 30-40 minutes.
This potato pie recipe is a family recipe that has been cooked in my household for many years. It’s constructed with a moist flavored beef mixture and fluffy mashed potato piled on top. Typically, it’s served hot with lashings of tomato sauce. I’ve given the recipe here to make it from scratch, although traditionally this recipe is normally made by mincing up leftover roast lamb or beef.
Preparing the Beef Mixture
The recipe involves preparing a beef mixture and then topping it with mashed potato. Start by heating a frypan over a medium heat, add a splash of olive oil and then add the beef mince. Use a wooden spoon to break the mince up and then stir the beef until browned all over, a slight tinge of pink to the mince is alright.
Transfer the beef mince to a mixing bowl. Add gravy, diced carrot, diced onion, nutmeg, herbs, salt, pepper and lemon rind. Stir the mixture through until all combined. You could also use all spice instead of mixed herbs. Transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish.
Alternative Method for the Beef Mixture
Leftover roast beef/lamb can also be used to prepare the beef mixture and can add great flavors. I love to make a roast with extra gravy, knowing that the leftovers will be used the next night to make a potato pie. When baking a roast, bake an additional onion and 1-2 carrots in preparation for the pie. Use a mincer to mince the onion, carrot and leftover roast and then prepare the rest of the recipe as per above.
I have an inherited mincer that attaches to my stand mixer. Either an electric or hand meat grinder will work.
Completing the Potato Pie
Peel and chop 3-4 large potatoes and boil until softened. Mash with a generous splash of milk, a pinch of salt and a knob of butter until smooth. Pile the mashed potato on to the top of the beef mixture and then brush with melted butter.
Bake in a moderate oven for 30-40 minutes, until browned on top and heated through. Serve hot topped with lashings of tomato sauce.
