Mince Meat

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Servings: 1 Difficulty: Intermediate
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Rich, spiced beef and fruit preserve perfect for pies and tarts
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Mince Meat

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 1 Calories: 2825.8

Description

This traditional mince meat is a rich, complex preserve made from a slow-simmered blend of beef suet, chopped apples, dried fruits, and warm spices like allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. The addition of citrus rind and juice provides a bright contrast to the deep, savory-sweet flavors of the meat and raisins. Often confused with modern sweet pastries, authentic mince meat is a savory-sweet filling with roots in medieval cuisine. It has a thick, jam-like consistency and an intense aroma of warm spices. This versatile mixture is excellent for filling pies, tarts, or eating straight from the jar. It improves with age, making it a wonderful gift or holiday staple that can be stored in the cellar for months.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Finely chop the boiled calf tongue and beef suet, ensuring the suet is cut into very small pieces for even melting.
  2. Peel the oranges and lemons, finely chopping the rinds and setting the juice aside for later use.
  3. Core and finely chop the apples, tossing them immediately with the citrus juice to prevent browning.
  4. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine the chopped suet, tongue, apples, raisins, currants, citron, and almonds.
  5. Add the sugar, salt, grated nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon to the pot.
  6. Pour in the orange and lemon juices, then add the brandy and whiskey.
  7. Stir well to combine all ingredients, then cover the pot and simmer over low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and the suet has melted.
  8. Remove from heat and stir in the candied orange and lemon rinds if not using fresh zest.
  9. Ladle the hot mince meat into sterilized jars, leaving a small headspace at the top.
  10. Seal the jars tightly and store in a cool, dark place for at least a month to allow flavors to meld.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 1

Amount Per Serving
Calories 2825.8kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2.6g4%
Saturated Fat 0.2g1%
Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
Sodium 41.2mg2%
Total Carbohydrate 738.5g247%
Dietary Fiber 28.1g113%
Sugars 695.3g
Protein 9.7g20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: mince meat, beef suet, spiced fruit, traditional, preserve, pie filling, apples, raisins, currants, citrus, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, brandy, whiskey, holiday, christmas, british, preserving
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