Old-Fashioned Savoury Mince with Curry

Rich, cosy and comforting, this old-fashioned savoury mince is Aussie comfort food at its finest! It is the perfect meal for busy nights; easy to batch cook and freeze, super versatile and ready in around 20 minutes. And it can be used as a base in a number of different dishes! Serve it over buttered toast, rice or mashed potatoes, or find more variations from the list below.

Due to its utter simplicity, savoury mince (also called curried mince) is a staple in households around Australia and a much loved, last-minute dinnertime saviour.

Made the old-fashioned way with beef mince, Worcestershire sauce, curry powder and vegetables, simmered in a thick and rich sauce, it is completely customisable to suit the ingredients you have in your fridge and pantry. And it can be used in so many dishes, limited only to your imagination!

There is just something so cosy and so comforting about it. With a rich and full-bodied savoury curry sauce, it makes a hearty and filling winter food. Best of all, it’s super cheap to make and a great way to use up any fresh and frozen veggies in your fridge.

Make a double batch and freeze it for nights when you can’t be bothered cooking, or pull it out to add to pies, pastas, potatoes or a thick slice of toast for a quick and easy dinner any time.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Unbelievably easy – an effortless family favourite that is packed with flavour! 20 minutes and a handful of familiar fridge and pantry staples are all you need.
• Versatile – it can be used as a base to make so many dishes! See some tasty suggestions below.
• Customisable – a quick, throw-together meal that is easy to adapt. Swap out the veggies and even the beef mince to suit whatever meat and vegetables you have in your fridge.
• Freezer-friendly – perfect for batch cooking and freezing for a convenient, no-fuss dinner.
• One pot meal – everything comes together in one pot, for minimal clean-up.
• Affordable – this recipe uses cheap beef mince, fresh and frozen veggies and pantry staples to keep it low-budget. It can also be stretched further with additional veggies, a can of lentils or beans.
• Hearty and filling – the best kind of old-fashioned comfort food!

What you’ll need

** This post contains tips and instructions to achieve the best possible results. The photo above is a great guide for when you are in the supermarket, but for full ingredient quantities and methods, please scroll down to the detailed recipe card below!

• Beef mince – use regular or lean beef mince, whichever you prefer. You can swap beef for chicken, turkey or lamb mince instead; or substitute for Quorn mince for a vegetarian option.

• Garlic and onion – are sautéed in a little olive oil for the flavour-base.

• Tomato paste – adds a deep, rich flavour to the sauce.

• Vegetables – we use carrot, zucchini and frozen peas. But load it up with whatever fresh or frozen veggies you like!

• Curry powder – for the most traditional flavour, I use Keen’s curry powder (mild). Both mild and hot versions can be found in supermarkets around Australia. Elsewhere, you can use any curry powder that you have on hand or even make your own version. Although there may be slight differences in flavour, depending on the spices used. To make this dish mild for kids, start with 1-2 teaspoons of curry powder and then adjust from there, to taste.

• Worcestershire sauce – is a well-known pantry staple sauce that adds a deep, savoury umami flavour to dishes. It can be found in supermarkets and grocers and can be swapped for soy sauce and a little tomato sauce, or even a little Vegemite.

• Plain flour – to thicken. Alternatively, add cornflour.

Step by step guide

This dish consists of beef mince simmered down with onions, garlic and veggies in a mouth-wateringly rich sauce made from curry powder, beef stock and Worcestershire sauce.

Step 1 – Sauté the onion and garlic;

Sauté the onion and garlic together with the olive oil on medium-high heat, for 1-2 minutes, until soft and fragrant.

Add the diced carrots and continue to cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

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Step 2 – Brown the mince;

Add the beef mince to the pan and continue to cook, stirring, until the mince has browned. Break up any lumps of beef with a wooden spoon.

Step 3 – Make the sauce;

Add the tomato paste, curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, salt, grated zucchini and frozen peas and bring to a low boil. Mix the flour with a little water, until smooth and add it to the mince mixture. Stir to combine.

Simmer the sauce for 5-10 minutes, until the veggies are soft and the sauce has thickened to a gravy-like consistency.

If you have added potatoes or any large veggies, check that they are completely cooked through. You may need to add a few more minutes to the cooking time.

Variations

• Use chicken, turkey or lamb mince instead of beef. Or use Quorn mince for a vegetarian version. Regular mince can be swapped with lean mince, for a healthier option.
• Add some bacon along with the mince for extra flavour.
• A tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves adds an extra note of savoury flavour.
• Stretch it further – if the budget is tight or you need to fill some hungry bellies, stretch the mince further with a can of drained lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas or some extra veggies and serve with some toast, rice or pasta.
• To turn up the heat; choose a hot curry powder or add chilli powder to add your desired level of heat.
• Add a little tomato sauce/ketchup in place of the Worcestershire sauce.
• Use any fresh or frozen vegetables. Try adding diced potatoes, shredded cabbage, corn, mushrooms, green beans, celery, snow peas, kale, capsicum, broccoli or diced, mixed frozen vegetables.

How to serve savoury mince

This is possibly the most versatile dish, EVER! While it can be enjoyed on its own as a comforting and filling meal, this mince can also be added as the star ingredient in so many recipes.

Keep a batch in the freezer, ready to transform into any of these easy dinner options;

• Cottage pie – top the mince with creamy mashed potatoes and a few handfuls of grated cheese and bake until the cheese has melted and everything is heated through.
• Jaffles – one of my favourites! Pop it into toasted sandwiches/jaffles with cheese.
• Toast – serve it over some thick pieces of buttery toast. So comforting and so easy!
• Pies – scoop the mince into puff pastry in your pie maker or oven for individual pies/pasties. You can even add some mashed potato for individual cottage pies.
• Lettuce cups – serve in cups of iceberg lettuce for a low-carb option.
• Baked potatoes – scoop into baked jacket potatoes with some sour cream, cheese and your favourite toppings.
• Rice – serve it over a bed of steamed white or brown rice.
• Ramen noodles – serve it with some seasoned, two-minute ramen noodles for the ultimate comfort dish!
• Pasta – add the mince to your favourite type of cooked pasta.
• Mashed potatoes – serve it spooned over a bed of creamy, buttery mashed potato or sweet potato.
• Stuffed capsicum – pop the mince into some hollowed-out, whole capsicums and bake until soft.

Tips for success

• Be sure to finely dice the carrot and other veggies, so that they cook through in the sauce.
• Make sure the mince is fully browned before adding the tomato paste. Use a wooden spoon to break down the lumps.
• Meal prep – to prepare ahead of time, all of the veggies can be sliced and stored in an airtight container.
• Have everything ready to go – this is such a quick dish to make, so it pays to have everything chopped and ready to add to the pan.
• Make it milder – reduce or increase the amount of curry powder, to taste. Start with 1-2 teaspoons and them adjust to suit.
• While the sauce is simmering, taste and adjust the curry, salt and Worcestershire sauce levels, to taste.

FAQs

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