Spiced Lamb Pie with Kumara Mash
Photography by Melanie Jenkins.
This pie is based loosely on the tasty South African dish ‘bobotie’ – a combination of lightly curried meat with dried fruit and topped with a baked egg custard. For this recipe I’ve opted for a more New Zealand-style topping of whipped kumara.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, sliced
1 carrot, grated
1 medium stick of celery, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1-2 tablespoons mild curry powder
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons fruit chutney
600 grams lamb mince
1/3 cup sultanas or raisins
½ cup chicken stock
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Kumara mash
1 kilogram orange kumara, peeled and roughly chopped
2 teaspoons curry powder
knob of butter
1 tablespoon cream or sour cream
pinch of ground cinnamon
4 x 1¼ cup-capacity ovenproof ramekins
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 180˚C.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onion, carrot and celery with a good pinch of salt until the vegetables are soft. Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder, allspice, tomato paste and chutney and cook for 2 minutes. Add the lamb and increase the heat. Cook for 5 minutes, breaking up any lumps with a spoon. Stir in the sultanas and stock, season and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Mash: Cook the kumara and curry powder in boiling salted water until tender. Drain well then return to the saucepan and put over a low heat to drive off the excess moisture. Mash until smooth then beat in the butter, cream and cinnamon and season well.
To assemble: Divide the lamb mixture between the dishes and pile the kumara mash over the top.
Place on an oven tray, grind over a little pepper and bake for 15-20 minutes until the filling is hot and bubbling. Serve with a salad of cooked snowpeas, cucumber and spring onions tossed with a little vinaigrette.

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As winter arrives, so does the latest issue of dish! With over 60 recipes this edition features seasonal produce like pumpkin, leeks and silverbeet whipped into delicious dinners. Pasta takes centre-stage in 5 outrageously tasty recipes, then we break out the slow cooker and amp up the comfort with cozy roasts and braises. Winter wouldn’t be the same without a hearty pie or two, and we have a selection – from Beef Cheek Pot Pie to Moroccan Shepherd’s Pie. Food Fast has your speedy weeknight dinners covered then Melie brings the magic with inventive chicken dishes while Olivia’s baking and desserts will brighten the even the coldest days.