Mild mince base

One gentle, savoury mince that becomes bolognese, cottage pie, a nacho-style bowl, soft tacos or a pasta bake — built on infused oils and soft veg instead of onion, garlic and chilli solids.

Lower gas
Less irritation
More flavour

easy · ~25 min · freezer-friendly

Mince is the workhorse of midweek cooking, and most recipes start with onion, garlic and sometimes chilli. This base gets its depth from onion and garlic oil, grated carrot and a little umami instead — then it flexes into a week of different dinners.

Best for

Bolognese
Mild nacho bowl
Cottage pie
Rice bowl
Soft tacos
Pasta bake

Replaces

Onion/garlic-and-chilli mince
Bean-bulked mince

What you need

Serves:

500 g beef or lamb mince
2 tbsp onion-infused oil
1 tbsp garlic-infused oil
1 large carrot, grated
3 tbsp pumpkin purée (optional)
1 tbsp tomato paste
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground coriander
½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
150 ml stock
1 tsp soy sauce, tamari or white miso
Salt to taste

How to make it

Warm a spoon of onion and garlic oil in the pan.
Brown the mince well — colour is flavour.
Stir in grated carrot (and pumpkin purée if using) to soften and bulk it gently.
Add tomato paste and cook it out for a minute.
Add stock and a small amount of soy/tamari or miso; season and simmer to your texture.

How to store it

Refrigerate and use within about 3 days, or freeze in meal-sized portions.

How to use it

Toss through pasta with a little extra garlic oil.
Spoon over rice or baked flour-tortilla chips for a nacho-style bowl.
Top with mashed potato for a cottage pie.

Recipe ideas

Mild nacho bowl
Cottage pie
Soft tacos with yoghurt sauce

Good to know

Skip beans, onion/garlic solids and chilli-heavy spice. Go easy on corn if residue is a problem for you.

infused oils umami boosters recipe rescue examples beef mince carrot tomato paste

Lower-risk, gentler and often better tolerated — not a guarantee. Individual tolerance varies; keep working with your own clinical team.