Gardener’s pie

A hearty main dish that won't break the bank

1 ratings

30 minutes
Serves 4
3 of 5 a day

Nutrition: Per serving

Kcal313
Fat8.2g
Salt0.6g
Sugar9.9g

Recipe by: Zoe Griffiths | Registered nutritionist

This family-friendly main dish keeps the expense down by using tinned beans and frozen vegetables – costing under £1 per head.

Ingredients

50g reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, grated
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
400g tin chopped tomatoes
400g tin haricot beans, drained and rinsed
300g frozen mixed vegetables such as carrots, peas and green beans
1 reduced-salt vegetable stock cube dissolved in 150ml boiling water
Freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 cans new potatoes in water, drained and sliced lengthways

Method

Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat.
Add the onions and cook until starting to soften. Then add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
Stir in the tinned tomatoes, haricot beans, frozen mixed vegetables, vegetable stock, freshly ground black pepper and dried thyme. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes to heat through thoroughly.
Tip the mixture into an ovenproof dish and arrange the sliced potatoes over the top of the mixture.
Sprinkle with grated cheese and place under a grill for around 7 minutes until golden brown.
Serve immediately.

Substitute the haricot beans for borlotti beans or butter beans for a slight variation on this recipe. Tinned beans like these are types of pulses which are high in protein and fibre and a good source of iron, B vitamins (including folate), potassium and zinc.