Tasty cottage pie with parsnip mash

• lean minced beef packet↗250g g

  (12% fat)

• onions↗2

  chopped

• carrots↗4

  (about 450g/1lb), peeled and coarsely grated

• Worcestershire sauce↗2 tbsp tbsp
• tomato purée↗2 tbsp tbsp
• beef stock↗2

  cubes dissolved in 425ml/¾ pint boiling water

• cornflour↗1 tsp tsp
• potato↗900g g

  peeled and cubed

• parsnips↗3

  peeled, cored and chopped

• skimmed milk↗2-4 tbsp tbsp
• steamed broccoli

  or Savoy cabbage to serve

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Dry fry the mince (without adding any oil) in a non-stick pan until evenly brown and crumbly. Add the onions and carrots and cook over a high heat for 5 minutes, stirring well.

2. 2

   Add the Worcestershire sauce and tomato purée, pour in the stock and bring to the boil, stirring until well mixed. Cover the pan and leave to simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally until the carrots and onions are tender and the stock has reduced. Taste and season. Blend the cornflour with a little water and stir into the mixture, cooking for a minute or until slightly thickened.

3. 3

   Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6/ fan oven 180C. While the meat is simmering, cook the potatoes and parsnips in boiling salted water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and mash with seasoning and enough milk to make a creamy consistency.

4. 4

   Tip the meat mixture into a 1.4 litre/ 21⁄2 pint ovenproof dish, spoon the mash on top and rough up the surface with a fork. Bake for 30 minutes or until the potato topping is lightly golden. Serve with steamed broccoli or Savoy cabbage.