Vegetarian Cottage Pie with Gnocchi & Buttered Spinach

Step 1/11

• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 400 g vegetarian ground meat

• frying pan

Add the vegetable oil into a large frying pan and place it over a high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer and loosen, carefully lower in the vegetarian mince. Fry for about 6 minutes, breaking up the mince and stirring as you go, until it’s crisp and golden in places.

Step 2/11

• 5 scallions
• 2 cloves garlic

Slice the spring onions into 1cm slices, then peel and mince the garlic while you wait.

Step 3/11

• salt

Once the mince is ready, add the onions, garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Fry for a further 3-4 minutes, until softened slightly and very fragrant.

Step 4/11

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• grill

Add the tomato paste (aka purée) to the pan and fry for a further minute or so, until darkened and sticky. Preheat the grill to its highest temperature while you wait.

Step 5/11

• 400 ml water
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 vegetable stock cube

Add 400ml of boiling water to a jug and add 2 crumbled stock cubes and the soy sauce. Give everything a stir and season with salt to taste, then add to the pan.

Step 6/11

If your gnocchi IS NOT precooked, cook it according to packet instruction. If it is, then carry on.

Step 7/11

• 500 g gnocchi (pre-cooked)
• 75 g cheese

Lay the pre-cooked gnocchi over the mince so it forms one layer on top, then coarsely grate over the cheese.

Step 8/11

• grill

Put the whole pan under the grill for 6-8 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden. Get on with the spinach in the next step while you wait.

Step 9/11

• 20 g unsalted butter
• 200 g spinach

• frying pan

While the cottage pie grills, melt the butter in another frying pan over a medium-high heat. Once the butter starts to foam, lower in the spinach - it might look like a lot but it will wilt down.

Step 10/11

Fry the spinach in the butter for 2-3 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the leaves darken and wilt. Season to taste with salt and plenty of black pepper.

Step 11/11

Once the cottage pie is ready, take it to the table with the pan of spinach and serve from there!

Enjoy your meal!