“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world”, J.R.R. Tolkien
A vegetable layered pie is sort of like a lasagne, crust-less quiche, casserole sort of dish. Instead of sheets of pasta I used beautiful layers of vitamin pumped vegetables. You can prepare this on a Sunday evening and have the leftovers as a lunch in work or it’s a great dish if you have guests coming around because it’s so simple to prepare. Either ways it is a comforting dish to devour and maybe sneak a glass of pinotage in as a treat (one glass not the bottle). I prepared sweet potato mash to accompany the dish. I boil them up and then pop them in food processor with some coconut oil, black pepper and salt, delicious. Also chop some avocado, squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of pink salt; perfect combo. This dish is grain free, gluten-free and contains a good balance of macro and micro nutrients. There is also a good balance of fibre.
Ingredients
Serves 4-6
Meat Sauce
500 grams Free Range, Lean Beef Mince
2 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped
1 tbsp. Cumin
½-1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (this will depend how spicey you like your food)
1 tin Tomatoes or make your own tomato sauce using a punnet of tomatoes and blitz them in the food processor.
Black Pepper & Salt to season
Vegetables Layers
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 Egg Plant, chopped
Handful Basil
5-6 Mushrooms
3-4 Courgettes, use a vegetable peeler to make ribbons
Topping
Ricotta Cheese, sprinkled/scattered over the top
How to:
- Preheat oven 180 degrees. Grease casserole dish with coconut oil.
- Vegetable Layers: wash, peel and chop carrots. Chop the eggplant and place on a plate and sprinkle salt over; this will drain the excess water. After 5-10 minutes rinse and pat dry eggplant. Lightly fry medium heat (1 t sp. coconut oil) until soft and golden brown. Wash and chop the mushrooms. Wash, top and tail courgette and peel in ribbons/strips using the vegetable peeler.
- Meat Sauce: In large saucepan add 1 tsp. coconut oil, finely chopped garlic, mince and spices, allow mince to brown. Add tomato sauce bought or homemade. Season.
- Layering: place chopped carrots on the bottom, meat sauce, eggplant, meat sauce, basil and mushrooms, meat sauce, courgette ribbons. Drizzle a small drop (1 tbsp.) coconut oil over the top and cracked black pepper. This will keep the courgette from drying out.
- Pop in the oven for 35-40 minutes. After 20-25 minutes remove from the oven and sprinkle ricotta cheese, over the top, pop back in for 15-20 minutes – golden brown.
- Allow to cool. Serve with sweet potato mash, mixed green salad, chopped avocado, whatever your darling taste buds desire.
Be sure to keep me posted if you try any recipe by posting on instagram: @makeandbakefromscratch or twitter:@WhelehanLynne
Real Food Rocks & Cookin’ Rolls x
