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Italian Minced Beef Plait - Fab Food 4 All
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4.70 from 10 votes

Italian Minced Beef Plait - so quick & easy to prepare.

Italian Minced Beef Plait is a quick and easy recipe which is like a cross between a meat loaf and a Beef Wellington - delicious and sure to please the family with its hidden veg.
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 4 - 5
Author Camilla Hawkins

Ingredients

  • 500 g good quality minced beef or steak
  • I onion quartered
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 medium carrot chopped into chunks
  • 1 celery stick chopped into chunks
  • 2 slices stale bread 100g torn up
  • 1 – 2 tsp Italian mixed herbs
  • 4 tbsp tomato puree
  • 50 g mature Cheddar cheese cubed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry 320g
  • additional egg for egg wash

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180ºC and place a sheet of non-stick baking paper onto a large baking tray.
  • Put the minced beef in a large bowl.
  • Mince the garlic and onion together in the Wahl James Martin Grind and Chop using the chopper bowl, then add to the mince.
  • Next mince the carrot and celery in the same Grind and Chop bowl and add to the mince.
  • Place the torn bread into the Grind and Chop to make breadcrumbs, then add to the mince.
  • Put the cubes of Cheddar in the Grind and Chop and chop until like fine gravel, then add to the mince.
  • Beat the egg using the Grind and Chop and add to the mince.
  • Finally add the herbs, tomato puree, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly with your hand.
  • Unroll the pastry and transfer to the lined baking sheet.
  • Place the mince on top of the pastry and form into long brick shape leaving a 4 cm gap at each end.
  • Next take a knife and cut 1.5 cm strips down each side at a 45º angle.
  • Fold one end flap of the pastry over the end of the mince (trimming as necessary) and then draw up alternate strips of pastry to form a plait (wet the ends of the strips if necessary so they stick).
  • Once you get close to the end fold up the end flap of pastry (trimming as necessary) and then finish the plait with the end tucked in.
  • Finish off by beating an egg in the Grind & Chop and brush the egg wash over the plait.
  • Place on the middle shelf of oven and bake for 1 hour until pastry is golden and mince cooked.
  • Serve with vegetables or salad of your choice.