Ingredients Potatoes 1 kg ground beef 700 g onion 1 chopped garlic 3 cloves olive oil 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons crushed tomatoes 1 cup salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon butter 4 tablespoons milk 2½ cups flour 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella or cheddar 1½ cups grated parmesan ½ cup nutmeg optional
Method (in order)
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a deep baking dish with butter
2 Peel and boil the potatoes in salted water until tender then drain and mash with 2 tablespoons butter ½ cup milk salt and pepper until smooth set aside
3 Heat olive oil in a pan add the chopped onion and cook until soft then add garlic and stir briefly
4 Add the ground beef and cook until browned then season with salt black pepper paprika and cumin
5 Stir in tomato paste and crushed tomatoes simmer for 10–15 minutes until thick
6 Prepare the cheese sauce by melting 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan add flour cook 1 minute then whisk in the remaining milk until thick season with salt pepper and nutmeg remove from heat and mix in mozzarella and parmesan
7 Assemble by spreading half of the mashed potatoes in the dish add all the meat sauce then cover with the remaining potatoes
8 Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the top and add extra cheese if desired
9 Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until golden and bubbly let rest 10 minutes before serving