Savoury Turkey Mince

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Savoury turkey mince is delicious, nourishing and frugal, easy to make and a great alternative to the more traditional lamb or beef.

Servings:

Author: Helen Best-Shaw

Prep Time5

Cook Time35

Total Time40

Ingredients

1 onion - peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic - peeled and diced
2 rashers bacon - or lardons
1 tbsp chicken fat - or other dripping or olive oil
450 g turkey mince
2 tbsp flour - any sort
2 tsp mixed herbs
425 ml chicken stock
2 tbsp tomato puree - or ketchup
1 tbsp soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
250 g frozen mixed vegetables - your choice
a handful of chopped parsley or other herbs to garnish - optional

Metric - USA Cups

Instructions

Prepare the onion, garlic and bacon. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Then cut the bacon into small pieces.
1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 rashers bacon
Heat the dripping (or oil) in a shallow pan with a tightly fitting lid. Add the onion and bacon, and fry for a few minutes.
1 tbsp chicken fat
Add the garlic and the mince to the pan and continue to cook. Do this in stages, because if you add all the mince at once, it will steam rather than fry. If you find there is a lot of liquid in the pan, remove it and add to the stock.
450 g turkey mince
Add the flour and stir it in. Then cook for few more minutes, stirring all the time. Take care that the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
2 tbsp flour
Add the herbs, chicken stock and tomato puree together with the soy or Worcestershire sauce. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer.
2 tsp mixed herbs, 425 ml chicken stock, 1 tbsp soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp tomato puree
Turn the heat right down, using a diffuser ring if you need one to keep the temperature low. Put the lid on the pan and leave for 20 minutes.
Add the frozen vegetables. Stir through and cook for another 5–8 minutes. Garnish with some fresh herbs before serving hot with potatoes or rice.
250 g frozen mixed vegetables, a handful of chopped parsley or other herbs to garnish

Notes

Storage

Your turkey mince will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for three days or in the freezer for three months.

Pack it into pots as soon as it is cold and get it into the freezer or fridge as quickly as possible. I like to use stackable plastic takeaway trays. They're convenient, free with the takeaway and it's better to reuse than recycle!

Reheat your turkey mince in a pan on the stove top, or in the microwave until piping hot.

If you are batch cooking for the freezer, you can leave adding the vegetables until you are reheating to serve.

Hints and tips

Slow cooker method – Cook to step 5 above and then transfer to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours. You might need a little less liquid. If you have too much, leave the lid ajar for the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow the mince to thicken.

In the oven – Cook to step 5. Then transfer to the oven in a covered casserole dish for 40 minutes.

Use dripping rather than oil. It just tastes better.

Brown the turkey mince properly before adding the flour. It needs to be properly broken up with no liquid in the pan. It is best to to add the mince in stages when you brown it.

For batch cooking / making ahead – cook to stage 5, pack into freezer safe boxes and add the vegetables once the mince has defrosted and you are ready to reheat it.

Add more vegetables – it is really easy to add extra veg to this dish. Try finely chopped celery or sliced peppers along with the onion and garlic. Add frozen mixed vegetables to save time and effort.

For a gluten-free version, you can leave the flour out at Step 4. Then at the end of cooking, put two teaspoons of cornflour in a small bowl, add a little water and stir to make a smooth cream. Stir this into the mince and cook for another minute to thicken.

• Please note that the nutrition information provided below is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

• Unless stated otherwise cup conversions have been made with an online tool. For accuracy please check with your favoured conversion tool. We recommend buying inexpensive digital kitchen scales.