Free recipes · from Book 2, Mince, Chicken, Tomatoes & Beans
The Chef's Mince Base
Allergens: SULPHITES Brands differ: always check the packaging of what you buy. Sauces made with vinegar or wine are tagged sulphites, to be safe.
My go-to mince base: onion, garlic, a splash of wine and tomato, simmered until thick. Cook the base, then decide what it becomes tonight.
500 g mince + 1 onion + 1 carrot + 1 can tomatoes + a splash of wine
By Chef Aurélie, professional chef
Ingredients
| Metric | US | |
|---|---|---|
| Olive oil | 2 tbsp | 2 tbsp |
| Onion and carrot, finely diced | 1 each | 1 each |
| Garlic, crushed | 3 cloves | 3 cloves |
| Beef mince (or any mince) | 500 g | 1 lb |
| Tomato paste | 1 tbsp | 1 tbsp |
| White wine (or water) | 60 ml | ¼ cup |
| Canned crushed tomatoes | 400 g can | 14 oz can |
| Dried oregano or thyme | 1 tsp | 1 tsp |
| Salt / pepper | 1 tsp / pinch | 1 tsp / pinch |
Method
- Soften the onion and carrot in the oil, 8 min over medium heat. Add the garlic for 1 min.
- Turn the heat to high. Add the mince and leave it 3 min to brown, then break it up.
- Stir in the tomato paste, then the wine. Scrape the bottom of the pan.
- Add the tomatoes, herbs, pepper and half a can of water.
- Simmer uncovered 25 to 30 min, until thick and glossy. Salt at the end.
- Keeps 3 days in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer.
Chef's tip Salt at the end: as the sauce reduces, the salt concentrates. The wine lifts the brown bits off the pan, and that's where the flavour is.
5 ways to make it your own
same base, five dinners: add at step 4
| Dinner | Add to the base | Serve with |
|---|---|---|
| Spaghetti bolognese | Red wine; 125 ml (½ cup) milk at the end MILK | Spaghetti, parmesan |
| Cottage pie | Mash on top; 25 min at 200 °C / 400 °F MILK | Green salad |
| Chilli con carne | Chilli powder, cumin, a can of kidney beans | Rice, sour cream |
| Taco & nacho mince | Smoked paprika, cumin, dried oregano; cook until dry | Tortillas, salsa |
| Picadillo | Cumin, raisins, toasted almonds ALMOND; pitted green olives if you like them | Rice, or as a filling |
| Bonus Lentil “mince” | 2 cans of lentils instead of the meat | Any of the five |