Pasta & bakes
Courgette and mince bake with tomato, cheese and rice
A comforting courgette, mince and tomato bake topped with crème fraîche and melted cheese. Served with rice for an easy dinner for two.
Swedish home cooking2 servings
Preparation 10 minCooking 30 minTotal 40 min
Ingredients
- 175 g raw minced meat, such as pork and beef mince, or the cooked mince from that raw amount
- 1 courgette (zucchini), about 350 g
- 100 g onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 400 g chopped tomatoes
- 100 ml crème fraîche
- 40 g grated cheese
- 1 tbsp cooking oil, divided between the mince and vegetables
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ⅛ tsp salt for the bake, or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 150 ml uncooked rice
- Water and salt for the rice according to the packet
Times are approximate and assume the rice cooks alongside the bake. Allow about 40 minutes from raw mince, or about 35 minutes with already cooked mince. Reducing a watery sauce may take a few extra minutes. Photo: the Lundin family, surroundings edited.
Method
- Heat the oven to 225°C conventional or about 200°C fan. Cook the rice according to the packet while preparing the bake.
- Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Cut the courgette into slices or half-moons about ½ cm thick.
- If using raw mince, heat a little of the oil and fry in a large pan for about 4–5 minutes. Break it up with a spatula and cook through. Transfer to a plate. Skip this step if using already cooked mince.
- Heat the remaining oil, or all of it if the mince is already cooked. Fry the courgette and onion for about 5–6 minutes until starting to soften. Add the garlic for the final minute.
- Add the mince, chopped tomatoes, oregano, salt and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes. The sauce should be moist but not thin and watery; simmer a few minutes longer if needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Transfer to a small baking dish, about 20 × 25 cm. Dot with crème fraîche and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 15–20 minutes until piping hot, the courgette is tender and the cheese is golden.
- Serve the bake with the freshly cooked rice.