Curried Mince for Vetkoek

Ingredients

• 1 beef stock cube (like Oxo)
• 60 milliliter boiling water (or four tablespoons)
• 2 tablespoons oil for frying
• 150 grams onion, diced (or one large onion)
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced (or garlic paste)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon mild curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 125 milliliter full-fat coconut milk
• 500 grams beef mince
• 2 tablespoons fruity chutney or apricot jam (like mango, peach or apricot chutney)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 250 milliliter frozen mixed vegetables (small veg like cubed carrot, peas, corn etc)
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• few grinds black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Dissolve the beef stock cube in the boiled water. Set aside.

2. 2

   Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan over a medium-low heat. Add the chopped onion and fry for 5-6 minutes, stirring often, until soft and translucent. Don’t let it brown.

3. 3

   Add the garlic, turmeric powder, curry powder, ground cinnamon, ground ginger and allspice to the onions.Fry the spices with the onions for 2 minutes so their flavours can develop. Keep stirring so the spices smell warm and aromatic, but don’t catch on the bottom of the pan.

4. 4

   Add the beef stock and coconut milk to the spicy onion mixture. Give it a good stir and cook for 3-4 minutes.

5. 5

   Add the minced meat. Break it up with a fork or wooden spoon and fry it with the onion mixture until the mince browns and no pink remains. This should take about 6 minutes.

6. 6

   Add the chutney (or apricot jam), tomato paste, frozen vegetables, salt, pepper and sugar to the cooked mince.

7. 7

   Stir the beef mixture and cook uncovered for 7-10 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables are cooked and the mince is thick and spoonable, with just enough sauce to coat everything.Keep an eye on the liquid level. If absolutely needed, add a small splash of water or coconut milk.

8. 8

   Serve hot in vetkoek or on a bed of rice.