Mince quantity question (stretching and portion sizes)?

iceicebaby

Add thinks like mushrooms and toinned toms to bolognese, and loads of assorted veg to cottage pies and chilis.

Kelinik

I'd get 3 adult sized portions from 500g mince here.

Gingernutmeg

I generally use half of a supermarket packet of mince when I'm cooking. For spaghetti bolognaise, I add mushrooms, a grated carrot and a grated courgette, and sometimes a couple of spoonfulls of red lentils. This generally gives me enough for two meals - spag bol one day and then I make a fancy shepherds pie the next, or freeze the leftovers for later. I do the same for chilli but change the mushrooms for the beans, and that generally gives me enough for two meals too.

Sorry lol, forgot to say that this is for two people

queenpig

newlywed wrote:

And I add thinly sliced parsnip and mushrooms to cottage pie and lasagna as the kids eat them without realising then

On another thread a comment by MATH (I think) said to add in some rolled oats with the mince as when the mince is cooked apparently you can't tell the difference between the oats and the mince - have yet to try it though.

I oats in meat loaf, shperds pie and havent noticed the differnce either lol also with sheprads pie (or whatever it is lol) i chuck in a few handfuls of frozen mixed veggies lol

TKP_3

I use 1 pack of mince (460g) for 4 adult portions.

newlywed

queenpig wrote:

I oats in meat loaf, shperds pie and havent noticed the differnce either lol also with sheprads pie (or whatever it is lol) i chuck in a few handfuls of frozen mixed veggies lol

Thanks. will be experimenting with a little oats next time I do lasagna/cottage pie type thingy.

beachbeth

I use a 500g pack of mince to make chilli con carne and this way I get three generous sized portions. I put a large tin of chopped tomatoes, small 150g tin of tomato puree and then oregano, chilli powder, cumin, cayenne pepper (2 tsp of each). I keep meaning to try some red pepper in it though and Im not keen on the beans so I leave them out.

As for shepherds pie, I use a 250g pack and put plenty of carrots in, as well as an oxo cube and onions and then, for the last few minutes, I add frozen peas before thickening with bisto gravy powder. This feeds three of us easily with the mashed potato and cheese topping. Yum!

beachbeth

Can I ask a question though. Do lentils add a taste? Or do they just pad the dish out?

HariboJunkie

I find the lentils add a nice subtle flavour but they really make the meat go further and of course they are really healthy.

Littlemiss-lotsofdebt

I use a 500g pack of mince to make either 4 portions of spag bol or chilli or 1 large lasagne, feeding 4/5 adults.

I pad spag bol out with mushrooms, onions and tomatoes and pad chilli out with tomatoes and baked beans and serve both with plenty of rice/pasta and garlic bread. This makes sure Mr LMLO feels like I've fed him and I get to whack some in the freezer for those can't be bothered to cook nights.