Non-meat-eaters can also revel in the pastry-encased splendour that is Lentil and Butternut Squash Wellington or Mushroom Wellington.
Ground beef recipes
Nutritious, accessible and finance-friendly, ground beef is always on my shopping list. It provides so many culinary options from the traditional to the unusual, quick and easy to gourmet, and it can take you on gastronomic adventures around the world without leaving the kitchen! Here are a few of my obvious and less obvious favourites: Classic meatloaf is a throwback I can’t resist. As well as ground beef I add an equal amount of ground pork for uber-juiciness. Don’t forget the ketchup crust! Homemade burgers are simple beef patties best on the barbecue. How you layer them up is up to you. Shepherd’s Pie (Indian Style) is a spicy mashup of East meets West. Beef mince and vegetables in a creamy tomato curry sauce under a comforting and crispy mashed potato topping. Harissa beef stuffed eggplant is North African flavours combined in an aromatic dish of tender eggplant and succulent beef with a texture to die for. Lasagna soup, yes, soup! Wild, right?? This one’s a shortcut to a slurpy and meaty one-pot lasagna.
What is Beef Wellington?
Beef Wellington is celebratory dish named in honour of the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. The original English recipe calls for a slab of beef fillet to be coated in either pâté or duxelles and then wrapped in a puff pastry shell. We recently had the joy of tasting the Gordon Ramsay’s version at the Savoy Grill in London and it was a masterpiece! The mushroom layer had a hint of truffles…pure bliss. These ingredients may be fit for king and suitable for a royal bank account, but I find traditional beef Wellington exclusive and high pressure! This modest version with ground beef is inexpensive and easy to prepare. And if it goes wrong, you haven’t ruined a top price piece of meat! This minced beef Wellington is a family-friendly dish that can be enjoyed by all. Not everyone can manage (or appreciate!) a hunk of rare beef. The ground beef with additional vegetables is soothingly familiar, even dubbed ‘the hamburger Wellington’ in my house.
Serving suggestions
While this beef Wellington recipe contains a healthy portion of potatoes and vegetables already, I like to make it feast-worthy with a couple of other accompaniments. For a more humble menu, I’d serve Irish mashed potatoes, maple glazed carrots or lemon butter green beans and a red onion gravy. Or for the Duke himself, this show-stopping mashed potato casserole with mushrooms and caramelised onions, honey garlic roasted parsnips, and a luxurious mushroom sauce.
Storage and leftovers
Whatever your Wellington, they are the perfect ‘get-ahead’. Prepare this ground beef recipe up to the point of putting in the oven, cover tightly with cling film and keep in the fridge for up to two days before cooking as per the instructions. Or freeze, also uncooked, for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight before oven cooking. Any cooked leftovers can be refrigerated for 2-3 days. You can reheat slowly in the oven or in the microwave. Check the meat is cooked through before serving.
More main courses with puff pastry
Salmon en croute (salmon wellington) Chicken and leek pie Chicken pot pie with roasted vegetables Turkey marsala pot pie
