Comfort on a budget: the allure of potato casserole
I often face the challenge of feeding my large family a tasty and filling meal without ruining the household budget. That's when the potato casserole comes to the rescue—the true queen of simple, homemade dishes. This dish is so versatile that it always disappears from the plates in the blink of an eye. Most importantly, its preparation doesn't require more than an hour of active work.
When I'm stuck for ideas for a quick and filling dinner for the entire family, I always turn to the reliable recipe for potato casserole. This dish is easy to prepare and exceptionally economical — perfect when I want to feed several people without spending a fortune.
Potato casserole – simplicity that always works
Potato casserole with minced meat is a real hit in my kitchen. Soft, creamy potatoes, aromatic tomato sauce with pieces of juicy meat, and melting cheese—the combination always pleases everyone. Moreover, its preparation doesn't require great culinary skills, and I often already have most of the ingredients at home.
Ingredients
- 1 kilogram of potatoes,
- 600 grams of minced meat (beef-pork),
- 1 large onion,
- 1 stalk of celery,
- 1 large carrot,
- 3 tablespoons of oil,
- 2 cloves of garlic,
- 4 tablespoons of tomato purée,
- 240ml of tomato purée,
- 140 grams of mozzarella,
- salt, pepper, sweet paprika, oregano (optional),
- fresh chives or spring onions.
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in their skins for about 17-20 minutes. After cooling, slice them.
- Heat the oil in a pan and fry the chopped onion, celery, and grated carrot.
- Add the minced meat, spices (salt, pepper, paprika, oregano), and minced garlic. Fry until the meat is browned.
- Add the tomato paste and purée. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.
- Layer potatoes, meat sauce, and mozzarella in an ovenproof dish. Repeat until all ingredients are used up.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (Gas Mark 4) and bake the casserole for 30 minutes.
- After baking, sprinkle with fresh chives or spring onions and serve.
Quick dinner for any occasion
The whole dish goes into the oven, preheated to 180°C (Gas Mark 4), and is baked for about 30 minutes. After taking it out, the potato casserole is ready to be served — creamy, aromatic, and the top is slightly crispy, thanks to the cheese. It's one of those dishes that tastes both freshly baked and reheated the next day.
This potato casserole is always my saviour when I can't think of anything for dinner. It only takes an hour to prepare a delicious, filling meal for the whole family that won't strain the household budget.
