This savoury crumble with minced beef and tomatoes is an old favourite of mine. With a layer of minced beef covered with sliced tomatoes and topped with a cheesy crumble, it's easy to make and great for a midweek dinner. Prepare it in advance then just bake in the oven before serving.
My early cooking recollections. Or lack of!
This healthy beef and tomato crumble is my choice for this month's Recipe Redux challenge. The theme was First Cooking Recollections. Now, I have to admit that I haven't always been as keen on cooking as I am now. Rather embarrassingly I was struggling to remember any early cooking recollections, only cooking avoidance ones!
My mum was a good cook and I have an older sister too. As a child she was the one who liked to help out in the kitchen. With two women already in the kitchen, there wasn't really room for a third and why would I need to be in the kitchen anyway? I think at the time there were a lot more interesting things to think about than cooking.
My first cooking recollections!
When I went away to university I did allow my mum to teach me a a couple of simple meals and for years I ate easy pasta and rice dishes, often involving simple stews and stir fries. These meals were healthy but not especially adventurous. You see, I have always been a healthy eater and did at least pick that up from my mum!
A favourite meal from my childhood
When I was growing up, one of the meals my mum made regularly was her savoury mince and tomato crumble. I remember her making it when I was a child and she still makes it now when I go to visit. My sister has the recipe and I know she makes it for her family too. Until now, I'd never made it. After all, they are making it for me when I visit, so I can make other things at home, can't I?
Well, earlier this month I visited my parents for a few days and while I was there, sure enough my mum made her mince and tomato crumble. I had a few ideas in mind for my Recipe Redux challenge but then I started to think maybe it was time for me to start making a few of my mum's old recipes. This may not be a recipe I remember making with my mum, but I do remember her making it for me.
But what is a savoury crumble?
The idea behind a savoury crumble is the same as a sweet one but without the sugar. Instead of sugar there's cheese and who doesn't like a cheesy topping? There are just three ingredients in this savoury crumble topping: flour, butter and cheese. That means it's a really simple recipe to make and a great way of making a mince dish a little more interesting.
My mum's savoury beef crumble recipe
Can you adapt the recipe?
I haven't changed my mince recipe much from my mum's recipe. She uses a mix of plain and wholemeal flour and although the recipe she gave me says to use lard to cook the mince, she no longer uses lard in cooking.
If you want you can add more vegetables to the minced beef. I added a little finely diced red pepper but didn't want to change the dish too much.
What to serve with a savoury crumble?
With the crumble topping and the minced beef, this can be quite a filling recipe. I like to serve lots of vegetables alongside. It's also great with a big green salad. If you do want more carbs then baked potatoes or garlic bread are great in winter or new potatoes in summer.
A great make-ahead meal
Another great thing about this savoury mince is that it can be made in advance and baked later. You can freeze it before baking too if you want. Just make sure it is thoroughly defrosted before baking. After it is baked you can store any leftovers in the fridge and reheat them the next day too.
More Minced Beef Recipes
For another easy minced beef recipe then do check out my Beef and Tomato Bake . If you like oriental flavours then my egg and beef mince stir fryis really tasty. Or how about my easy chilli con carne with hidden vegetables? It's been a really popular recipe with the children.
If you'd like to try something a bit different then why not try papas rellenas? Breaded mashed potato with a minced beef filling. They are so tasty!
Recipe
Savoury Mince and Tomato Crumble
Ingredients
- 1 onion finely diced
- ½ red pepper finely diced
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- 450 g lean minced beef
- 2 tablespoon plain flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Black pepper
- Salt
- 2 tablespoon tomato puree
- 280 ml beef stock
- 5 tomatoes
For the crumble topping
- 180 g flour I used half white and half wholemeal
- 90 g butter Or use an alternative spread
- 35 g grated cheese I used Red Leicester
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190C
- Put a little oil in a sauce pan and cook the onion and red pepper gently until softened then add the crushed garlic.
- Cook for a minute then add the mince. Keep stirring and breaking it up with a spoon until it is slightly browned.
- Stir in the flour, paprika, thyme, black pepper, salt and tomato puree. Add the stock then bring to the boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- While the mince is cooking, make the crumble topping. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips then mix in the cheese. Season with a little salt and black pepper.
- Lightly oil the sides of a casserole dish. Add the minced beef. Cover with a layer of sliced tomatoes. Top with the crumble mixture.
- Bake in the oven at 190C for about 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for later
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make this savoury mince crumble or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.
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Andrea Metlika
Childhood recipes are the best. Thank you for sharing your families recipe with us. It looks fabulous!
Corina Blum
Thanks Andrea! I really should make a few more of my old childhood favourites as well.
Mary Bostow
The whole family loved it, it went down a treat. Now they keep asking me to make it again! Which I will!
Corina Blum
That's such a great news! I'm so pleased they all liked it.
Lisa Bynum
Aw, I love those old handwritten recipes, They are the best! I've never had a savory crumble before, but I would be interested to try it!
Corina Blum
It's definitely worth trying! I have had a couple of savoury crumbles, mainly when I was younger as my mum used to make them, but this is the one that kept being made again and again.
kim
What a fabulous recipe idea! My whole family will love this one!
Corina Blum
That's great! My whole family love it too and my mum has passed the recipe on to lots of people.
Julia
What a delicious recipe! The best is that it can be made ahead which definitely saves time on a busy day!
Corina Blum
I try to make thing ahead all the time so I don't have to spend too much time cooking when my family are at home!
Pebble Soup
Such a lovely insight in your family. You mum must be quite an adventurous cook. Savoury crumbles are still very lesser known than sweet ones. Thank you for sharing with #InheritanceRecipes
Corina
Thank you! I'm not sure if my mum's an adventurous cook or not but she has always tried to cook healthy meals. When I was growing up we were one of the only families who always had wholemeal bread for our packed lunches and she always used wholemeal flour in everything.
Margot
Sounds like a perfect comfort food for chilly autumn evenings! Thank you for sharing with #InheritanceRecipes 🙂
Corina
Thank you! It took me a long time to actually make this recipe but now I have I'll certainly be making it again.
Allison
Yum! The fiance hates tomatoes before he is clearly insane, so this is going on the list to make the next time he is working late or out of town! MORE FOR ME!
Corina
I do exactly the same with sweetcorn whenever my husband is away or out for the night, although not with tomatoes as luckily he loves them!
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Oooh my kids, and us adults, would love this!! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Corina
So pleased you like it Kirsty x
Nicole @ yumsome
This looks like such comfort food - the type my gran might have made! Although I don't eat meat, I suspect that this would be really easy to veganise, and perfect now that the cooler weather is on its way.
This is going to be finding its way to my table very soon!
By the way, your mum has beautiful handwriting!
Corina
Thanks! I'll tell my mum! Yes, I'm sure a vegan version would work really well as you could easily substitute the meat for a lentil bolognese
Amanda Mason
This looks really good and I love an older recipe from my mom and grandmom! That means the recipe is super yummy! Thanks for posting this and I can't wait to try this one!
Corina
I hope you enjoy it! It has certainly stood the test of time for us!
Noel Lizotte
Supper that takes you back down memory lane! I love those kind of meals!
Corina
Me too! I don't remake enough of my mum's recipes but this has made me think of another few recipes I'd like to have a go at.
Igor @ Cooking The Globe
Wow this crumble looks really awesome. I would love it for a dinner. Thanks for the recipe!
Corina
I'm so pleased you like it and the best thing is that it's great reheated too!
Heidy L. McCallum
Your savory mince and tomato crumble looks so hearty and delicious, I love mince what a great way to serve it.
Corina
Thank you Heidi! It's always good to have a few ideas for what to do with mince
Deanna Segrave-Daly (@tspbasil)
So fun to see everyone's memories and love seeing your mom's actual recipe 🙂
Corina
Thank you!
Farrah
I don't think I've ever had anything like this before, but it looks + sounds delicious! :D!! Hooray for tomatoes!
Corina
Hooray for tomatoes indeed! So pleased you like it!
annelawton
This looks like a great way to use up the end of summer tomatoes!
Corina
Yes, I love tomatoes and it's always a shame when the best ones are not available any more!
Brynn at The Domestic Dietitian
We are in the same boat about not really learning (or liking) to cook at a young age. I can remember when I first moved out I had to google how to make rice!
This looks great and very flavorful!
Corina
Thank you I'm so pleased you like it! My family are still surprised I like cooking despite my food blog!
Andrea ThePetiteCook
I love the sound of this! I bet it tastes delicious!
Corina
Thanks! It's really tasty and for me a real favourite from my childhood too!
Platter Talk
I love the photo of the recipe hand written in your note book. I also love this recipe and photos. Thanks!
Corina
Thanks!
Bintu (@recipespantry)
I've never tried a savoury crumble. What an excellent idea
Corina
You should have a go! I love savoury crumbles and need to do a few variations next time as well. I'm thinking oat on this would be nice.
immaculatebites
I LOVE make ahead weeknight dinner. Just make getting dinner on the table less stressful. YUM
Corina
Exactly! I try to do this whenever I can as it can take quite a while to get the children to bed before we can eat our dinner.
athleticavocado
what a tasty dinner! yum!
Corina
Thank you!
Sara
My husband would love this recipe. He is a serious tomato fan!
Corina
I get through a lot of tomatoes as well. We all love them here!