Butternut Squash Mince Bake

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 hour 45 min
Serves 8

• 3 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 medium Butternut Squash, peeled, deseeded an cut into chunks
• 1 kg minced lamb, beef or mutton
• 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• 2 tablespoon tomato puree

  Tomato puree

  Concentrate made from paste type tomatoes that have high pectin content.

  When they’re cooked down, they’re put through a strainer to remove skins and seeds, and reduced further until almost all of the moisture has evaporated. Usually a recipe will call for a tablespoon or two, just enough to enrich a beef stew, for instance, or to deepen the flavour of a sauce made with fresh tomatoes.

• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 2×400g Cans of chopped tomatoes

  Canned chopped tomatoes

  Great for instant pizza sauce, pasta, curry sauces.

  • The tomatoes will keep for up to a week, but don’t store them in the opened tin because the metal will start to rust and spoil the food. Instead, tip the tomatoes into a plastic container, cover with a lid, or clingfilm and store in the fridge.
  • Alternatively, put the tomatoes in a freezer-proof container and freeze for up to 12 months.
• 2 tablespoon mango chutney

  Mango chutney

  Adds zip to grilled chicken, and is delicious accompaniment for a hot curry.

  But is also great with cheese and crackers for a snack and makes a good cream dip.

• 1 can whole apricots
• 570ml milk

  Milk

  organic, full fat, semi-skimmed.

  If milk turns sour (and this when it smells or tastes sour not when it has reached the best before date) it is excellent for making scones

• Salt

  Salt

  Consider tablesalt, sea salt or crystals.

  Sea salt’s pronounced and salty flavour means less is required to season food.

• ground black pepper

  Black peppercorns

  Best used as a condiment.

  They can be lightly crushed and used to spice up a creamy sauce or to coat fillet steak or chicken breasts.

  • Although it might seem odd, grinding black pepper over a bowl of strawberries enhances the flavour of the fruit.
  • Pepper that is pre-ground is not fresh tasting and often has other ingredients mixed in.
  • Choose the type of mill that suits you, and if you want coarser pepper you can loosen the screw on the top of the mill or crush the seeds in a pestle and mortar