Butternut, Rooibos and Lentil Cottage Pie
With the added lentils, and butternut instead of the traditional potatoes, you have a healthy winner.
Ingredients
4 tsp (20 ml) olive or canola oil
500 g lean beef or ostrich mince
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
250 g mushrooms, chopped
2 tsp (10 ml) dried mixed herbs
1 tsp (5 ml) ground coriander
2 tsp (10 ml) mild mustard
1 x 410 g tin chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup (125 ml) strong Rooibos
1/2 cup (125 ml) uncooked red lentils
lemon juice and black pepper to taste
750 g butternut, peeled and cubed
1/4 tsp (1,2 ml) salt
Method
1. Heat half the oil in a large saucepan and fry mince until brown. Spoon out.
2. Heat remaining oil in the same pan and fry onions, carrots and mushrooms until soft. Add mixed herbs, coriander, mustard, mince and tomatoes. Reduce the heat and simmer over a low heat, with a lid, for 20 minutes.
3. Add Rooibos and lentils and simmer with the lid for another 15- 20 minutes or until lentils are soft. Season well with lemon juice and pepper.
4. Preheat the oven to 200 ˚C. Meanwhile, place butternut and salt in a pot with ¾ cup (180 ml) water. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until just soft. Drain well and lightly mash or crush with a fork. Season with lemon juice and black pepper.
6. Spoon mince mixture into an oven dish, spread butternut on top in an even layer. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.
Serve with green veggies like pan-fried or steamed broccoli and baby marrows, seasoned with fresh herbs and lemon juice or fill your plate with a tomato salad.
These recipes have been made available courtesy of Pharma Dynamics and the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA, and forms part of the Cooking from the Heart cookbook resource, which contains more than 100 heart-healthy recipes. The selection above all include homegrown Rooibos which is sure to tantalise everyone’s taste buds.
For more info on the Cooking from the Heart wellness programme, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/CookingFromTheHeartSA/
