Demi's Cottage Pie

Serves 2

Large knob of butter
100g soffritto (mix of diced onion, carrots and celery)
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
500g ground beef
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp oregano
1 tsp curry powder
1 small cauliflower
50g cream cheese
Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.

Heat the butter in a large pan over a medium heat, add the soffritto and garlic, fry until softened and pale golden-brown. Add the ground beef and fry, stirring continuously, until browned. Reduce to a low heat and stir in the tomato purée, oregano and curry powder until well combined. Simmer for 18-20 minutes. If it starts to look dry, add some hot boiled water to keep it wet (not too much though).

In the meantime, put the cauliflower (whole or divided into florets) in a saucepan, pour over boiling water, cover and then simmer until tender. Drain well, mash, add the cream cheese and mix thoroughly.

Put the beef mixture into an ovenproof baking dish and then top with the cauliflower mash, completely covering the filling. Sprinkle some Parmesan over the top, transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until the mashed cauliflower topping is golden-brown and crisp.

Well, I just learned something new . I've always thought "mix of diced onion, carrots and celery" was called mirepoix. Turns out, that's the French term .. soffritto is Italian.

I also thought soffritto was a spicy mix of tomatoes, onions, cilantro and chilis, popular in Spanish and Caribbean cuisine. Turns out, that's spelled "sofrito" .. one f, one t.



Demi, your recipe sounds delish

Thanks Doreen, and apologies, I seem to have missed your original post.

Lol, yes it is confusing. I'd never heard it called mirepoix, I've always known it as soffritto.