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Cheesy Potato Bake with Minced Meat

Cheesy Potato Bake with Minced Meat

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Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the Potatoes:
  • 7 to 8 medium potatoes
  • Salt for boiling water
  • For the Minced Meat Sauce:
  • 700 g minced meat beef or mixed
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 100 g tomato sauce
  • 100 ml soya cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Italian herbs
  • Vegetable broth about 100ml
  • For the Cream Sauce:
  • 200 ml soya cream or regular cream
  • 200 g cream cheese
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Cheese Layer:
  • 1 pack grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 pack grated mozzarella cheese
  • Optional Toppings:
  • Chopped green onion
  • Grated parmesan

Method
 

Step 1: Slice your potatoes into rounds that are about half a centimeter thick.
  1. You want them thick enough that they won't fall apart but thin enough to cook through nicely.
  2. Drop them into a big pot of salted boiling water and let them cook for 25 to 30 minutes until they're fork tender.
Step 2: While those potatoes are bubbling away, heat up a large pan over medium heat.
  1. Add your minced meat and break it up with a wooden spoon as it browns.
  2. Once it's nicely browned, toss in the chopped onion and cook until it softens.
Step 3: Now add the paprika, tomato paste, tomato sauce, soya cream, salt, pepper, and Italian herbs to the meat.
  1. Pour in enough vegetable broth to make it saucy but not soupy.
  2. Let everything simmer together for about 10 minutes so all those flavors can get to know each other.
Step 4: Scoop the meat mixture out of the pan and set it aside in a bowl.
  1. In that same pan (less dishes to wash, right?), add your cream cheese and soya cream.
  2. Stir in the salt, pepper, nutmeg, and smoked paprika.
Step 5: Keep stirring the cream sauce over low heat until everything melts together and starts to bubble gently.
  1. It should be smooth and pourable, kind of like a thick gravy.
  2. Turn off the heat once it's ready.
Step 6: Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
  1. Grab a baking dish and give it a good grease with butter or cooking spray.
  2. Now comes the fun part, building your layers.
Step 7: Start with a layer of your boiled potatoes covering the bottom of the dish.
  1. Drizzle about a third of that creamy sauce over the potatoes.
  2. Spread half of your meat mixture on top of that.
Step 8: Add another layer of potatoes over the meat.
  1. Pour the rest of your cream sauce over everything.
  2. Spread the remaining meat mixture on top.
Step 9: Finish with one final layer of potatoes if you have any left.
  1. Now shower the whole thing with both kinds of cheese.
  2. Don't be shy with the cheese, this is a cheese bake after all.
Step 10: Pop it in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
  1. You'll know it's done when the cheese is golden and bubbling like crazy.
  2. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving so it doesn't fall apart when you cut into it.