How to Cook Mince & Dumplings

  • Prep time
  • Cook time
  • Difficulty easy
  • Serves 4
cooked beef mince and dumplings

Ingredients

  • 500g Grass Fed Beef Mince
  • F&Co Beef dripping
  • Splash red wine vinegar
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 1 tbls. tomato puree
  • 500 ml Rich beef stock
  • Good splash of Henderson’s relish or Worcester sauce
  • 1 large onion peeled & diced
  • 2 carrots peeled & diced
  • 2 sticks celery peeled & diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
  • Sea salt & cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp. cornstarch mixed with a splash of cold water
  • for dumplings
  • 150g S/R flour
  • 75g suet or cold butter, grated
  • 75g red leicester or mature cheddar
  • bunch of chives finely chopped

Method for mince

  1. Season the minced beef with a sprinkling of sea salt.
  2. Heat a tablespoon of dripping over high heat in a flameproof casserole then sauté until well browned then set aside.
  3. Add onions & diced veg to the same dish and soften over medium heat Add vinegar, sugar, tomato paste and herbs then reduce by three quarters.
  4. Next add stock and simmer for 5 minutes before thickening with the cornstarch mix.
  5. Add minced beef to the sauce, cover with lid and simmer gently for 45 minutes until meat is tender and sauce rich.

Method for dumplings

  1. To make the dumplings, tip the flour into a bowl with the suet.
  2. Add the cheese, chives, cracked black pepper and a pinch of salt.
  3. Mix in a little cold water to make a soft, slightly sticky dough (be careful not to add too much water as you can always add a little extra).
  4. Divide into 8 to 10 and roll into balls.

To finish

  1. When the mince is ready, place the dumplings on top and bake in a preheated oven 180°C /160°C fan assisted (gas 4).
  2. Place in the oven covered for 20 minutes then remove the lid for a further 20 minutes or until the dumplings are a nice golden colour.

To serve

Serve hot with buttered greens and F&Co Brown sauce or mustard.

Note:The mince can be made in advance and reheated before topping with the dumplings .

cooked beef mince and dumplings