The Lady in the Van: Mince with Potatoes and Peas
I wasn’t stopping there. A woman said my face rang a bell. Was I ever in Banstead? And would not stop. They gave me some mince. She said, you’ll find the mince here a step up from the mince in Banstead. I don’t know about the mince in Banstead, or anywhere else for that matter. It’s where they put people when they’re not right.
MISS SHEPHERD, THE LADY IN THE VAN
I finally got the chance to watch, The Lady in the Van, a few days ago and it was such a delightful movie starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings. The story captures the unlikely bond of Mary Sheppard and Alan Bennett during the 1970’s.
This dish of mince with potatoes and peas is inspired by the movie. When Miss Shepherd visits the day center and was serve a plate of mashed potatoes with mince. It’s the perfect comfort dish for a cold day.
The Lady in the Van: Mince with Potatoes and Peas
The Lady in the Van: Mince with Potatoes and Peas
Ingredients
- | MASHED POTATOES |
- 3 - large russet potatoes cleaned, peeled, and sliced into 2" rounds
- 2 tbsp + 1 tbsp - unsalted butter
- 1/4 - heavy cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup - green peas
- | MINCE |
- 12 oz / 340g - ground beef
- 2 tbsp - vegetable oil
- 1/2 - onion small dice
- 1 - garlic clove minced
- 1 - medium carrot medium dice
- 1 - sprig rosemary stem removed
- 2 - sprigs thyme stem removed
- 1 tbsp - all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup / 4oz / 113g - red wine
- 1 cup / 8oz / 226g - beef broth
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the oil. Once hot, add the diced onions, garlic, rosemary, and thyme and cook for 5 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add the diced carrots and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the sliced potatoes in a pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Cool until tender. Once tender, drain well and mash with a potato masher. Heat the cream and 2 tbsp of butter until warm and stir in with the mashed potatoes. Season for salt and pepper.
- Add the ground beef and turn the heat to high. Break up the beef and cook until brown. Add the flour and mix until combined.
- Add the wine and scrape off any of the crispy bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the stock and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
- Salute the peas in a bit of butter just until hot. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve the mince with a side of mashed potatoes and peas.
