Mince Recipes
Mince recipes are some of the most useful to have in your repertoire. Whether it’s minced beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, chicken, or turkey, minced or ground meats are so versatile. Often quicker to cook than meals using large cuts of meat, in many mince recipes you can swap the type of minced meat according to what you have.
From kebabs, meatballs, meatloaf and pies, to spicy stuffed vegetables and Chinese inspired dishes, I hope you’ll find lots of ideas in this round-up of my favourite mince recipes.
MINCED BEEF & ONION PIE
Classic British comfort food. But with everyday ingredients, this warming pie is so easy to make too. Minced beef simmered with onions and garlic in beef stock, topped with a simple shortcrust pastry lid.
Serve with creamy mash and buttered vegetables for a knockout, satisfying dinner that everyone will love.
ITALIAN PORK MEATLOAF (POLPETTONE)
With herbs, garlic, fennel seeds, lemon and Parmesan, this meatloaf (whose Italian name polpettone means ‘big meatball’) combines classic meatball flavours in a sliceable loaf that’s great hot or cold.
I’ve used all pork mince, but you can replace half with beef or veal mince if you like.
MOROCCAN LAMB MEATBALLS IN SPICY TOMATO SAUCE
This easy but delicious dish is similar in flavour to traditional Moroccan tagines. But, thanks to mince instead of chunks of lamb, it’s cooked in a fraction of the time.
Juicy, browned meatballs flavoured with a Moroccan-inspired spice mix nestled in a rich tomato sauce imbued with the same warmly spicy blend. I love it with mutton mince, but beef mince would be good too. Try it as a main course with couscous and spiced roasted veg, topped with yogurt. Or maybe as one of a range of little dishes to share, meze-style.
PORK KEBABS WITH FENNEL & ORANGE
Easy kebabs inspired by the flavours of Greece: juicy minced pork skewers seasoned with fennel seeds, garlic, orange zest, and oregano.
Eat these full flavoured kebabs with a tahini-yogurt sauce, salad, plus grains, flatbread or cauliflower ‘couscous’. Based on a recipe by Tom Kerridge.
KARNIYARIK: TURKISH STUFFED AUBERGINE
This traditional Turkish dish features soft baked aubergines stuffed with meat in a tomato sauce topped with slices of green pepper and tomato.
In my version there’s lamb or mutton mince spiced with cumin, cinnamon, and chilli. But beef would be good too. Whichever mince you use, karniyarik is lovely served with rice or bulgur pilaff, a salad and minty cucumber yogurt.
CHINESE PORK MEATBALLS
These wonderfully light meatballs are my take on the dish known as Lion’s head meatballs. Pork mince flavoured with Chinese rice wine, garlic, ginger, soy, sesame, plus water chestnuts for contrasting crunchy texture.
After browning, the meatballs are braised in a rich sauce seasoned with star anise and Chinese five spice. Lovely over stir-fried greens.
ULTIMATE MEATBALLS & SAUCE/ MEATBALLS AND PASTA AL FORNO
This was one of my very first blog posts. But it remains a great recipe. Or rather, two recipes in one. Besides my ‘ultimate’ meatballs and sauce to toss through long pasta, you can also turn them into a fabulous pasta bake with rich cheesy topping.
I love the meatballs, flavoured with lemon, sage, Parmesan and fennel, made with half pork mince and half veal mince. But you could make them with pork and regular beef or just all beef.
PORK BURGERS WITH SAGE, GARLIC & STILTON
Pork burgers make a welcome change from the usual beef. Subtly flavoured with sage and garlic, I top these tasty patties with slices of creamy Stilton cheese before popping under the grill to melt.
Add a crunchy, tangy apple and cabbage slaw to your bun and you’ll see burgers in a whole new way.
LAMB KOFTE KEBABS
Lamb Kofte Kebabs always feel like a treat to me. Juicy minced meat with a touch of onion, garlic, herbs and spices, served with good bread, salad and garlicky yogurt, never fails to please.
Cooked in a griddle pan, under the grill or on a barbecue in around 10 minutes, I think you’ll love these made with either lamb or mutton.
AUBERGINE WITH PORK & CHILLI-GARLIC SAUCE
This is an utterly delicious but easy Chinese-inspired stir-fry. Golden fried aubergine braised in a heady sauce including juicy minced pork, ginger, garlic, spring onions, soy sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, and chilli oil.
Served over noodles, rice, or eaten as one of several Chinese style dishes, I think you’ll love this simple, flavour-packed stir-fry.
BACON WRAPPED MEATLOAF
Using quality minced beef, this simple meatloaf tastes so good there’s no need for any sauces, gravy or toppings. Without fillers such as breadcrumbs, but flavoured with herbs, onion and a little cheese, this bacon wrapped loaf is suitable for lower carb diets.
I love it on a bed of sauteed veg finished with a little cream, the cooking juices poured over.
HASLET: ENGLISH PORK & SAGE MEATLOAF
This meatloaf is a little different to the others in this round-up of mince recipes. Although you can eat it hot, haslet is most often served cold in sandwiches, with pickles, or salad.
This old fashioned but much-loved English pork meatloaf is flavoured with sage and onion and is easy to make at home with a few everyday ingredients.
SHAKSHUKA WITH MERGUEZ SPICED MEATBALLS
Whether you’re new to the spicy North African dish of Shakshuka or already love it, you’ll want to try this incredible version. To the rich pepper and tomato stew with its topping of eggs, I’ve added merguez-spiced meatballs.
To mimic the flavour of spicy merguez sausages, I season lamb mince with cumin, coriander and fennel seeds, paprika, cinnamon and cayenne. The browned meatballs are then finished in the rich sauce with more of the spice mix. Finally, eggs are simmered on top. Delicious!
THAI SPRING ROLLS WITH PORK & PRAWNS
Who doesn’t lovely a hot, crispy spring roll? My Thai-inspired version has rice noodles, Chinese mushrooms, prawns, minced pork, carrots, bamboo shoots and beansprouts, all flavoured with garlic, chillies, coriander and fish sauce.
Gorgeous with sweet or hot chilli dipping sauce on the side.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my round-up of mince recipes and have found something you’d like to try.