Sweet Minced Lamb with Aubergine and Apricots

If you're bored of bolognese, this sweet, curry inspired dish is the one for you. It can be made a few days in advance (which lets the juices flow) and served with boiled rice, couscous, or a baked potato. Perfect for dinner party preparation as it re-heats really well and can be kept in the fridge for up to a week.

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

for the sweet beef - 

- 1 tbsp groundnut oil (or veg oil)

- 1 small onion, chopped

- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed or finely chopped

- 500g beef or lamb mince 

- 1/2 an aubergine, chopped into small pieces

- 2 tsp curry powder

- 1/2 green chilli, chopped

- 2-3 tbsp mango chutney

- 2 tbsp tomato puree

- 10 cherry tomatoes, chopped in half

- 100ml chicken or vegetable stock

       - 8 dried apricots, chopped

   - 50g sultanas or raisins

- salt and pepper

for the couscous - 

couscous (roughly 280g - see instructions)

240ml chicken or vegetable stock

1 small handful of coriander, finely chopped (optional)

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp good quality olive oil

salt and pepper

1. Fry the onion and garlic in the groundnut oil for a few minutes and then add the chopped aubergine. Stir for another couple of minutes and then add the meat and start to brown it, stirring constantly. 

2. Next, stir in the curry powder, tomatoes, tomato puree and chutney. Cook for a few minutes and then add the stock, followed by the apricots and raisins. Season with salt and pepper and let the dish simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.

3. When the lamb has been cooking for 20 minutes, start to make the couscous. Place the couscous in a clear bowl and just about cover it with stock. Leave it for around 4 minutes with a lid or plate on top, and then fluff it up with a fork. Next add the chopped coriander (if using), lemon juice, sugar and oil, and season well. *For less faff, make rice not couscous*.

Sweet Minced Beef

If you're bored of bolognese, this sweet, curry inspired dish is the one for you. I opted for the easy option of serving this with boiled rice, but it works better with coriander couscous. 

Ingredients (serves four)

for the sweet beef - 

1 tbsp groundnut oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

500g beef or lamb mince 

3 tsp curry powder

1/2 green chilli, chopped

2 tbsp mango chutney

2 tbsp tomato puree

10 cherry tomatoes, chopped

100ml chicken or vegetable stock

       8 dried apricots, chopped

   50g sultanas or raisins

pepper

for the couscous - 

couscous (roughly 280g - see instructions)

240ml chicken or vegetable stock

1 small handful of coriander, finely chopped (optional)

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp good quality olive oil

salt and pepper

1. Fry the onion and garlic in the groundnut oil for a few minutes and then add the meat and start to brown it, stirring constantly. 

2. Next, stir in the curry powder, tomatoes, tomato puree and chutney. Cook for a few minutes and then add the stock, followed by the apricots and raisins. Season with salt and pepper and let the dish simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.

3. When the lamb has been cooking for 20 minutes, start to make the couscous. Place the couscous in a clear bowl and just about cover it with stock. Leave it for around 4 minutes with a lid or plate on top, and then fluff it up with a fork. Next add the chopped coriander (if using), lemon juice, sugar and oil, and season well.

Marinaded Garlic and Mint Courgette Salad with Cheat Aberdeen Beef

I was so happy to find some reduced off cuts of Aberdeen beef on the meat counter in Waitrose. Reduced by £7, at a whopping value of £1.50, it will probably last me for three or four meals! Don't let these bargains pass you by, I always buy reduced items as it is a great way to save money and buy things you wouldn't normally look at. 

This is a super easy recipe and the courgette salad can be eaten with just about anything. Some people might be skeptical about trying raw courgette, but once marinaded, you won't be able to tell the difference. Use some of the same garlic, mint dressing to coat the rest of the salad.

Ingredients (serves 2)

1 courgette, sliced thinly using a peeler or cheese slicer

leaves off 4 sprigs of mint, finely chopped

6 tbsp good quality olive oil

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 clove of garlic, crushed

salt and pepper

Crush the garlic in a pestle and mortar and then add the oil and vinegar. Marinade the courgette in this mixture along with the chopped mint and let the courgette soak up all the goodness. It lasts for a good while in the fridge, and is great as a substitute for salad.