Back in the 60s, there was an old ad that asked the question every home cook knew too well:
“What can you do with a pound of mince?”
Fast forward to now and the answer is… plenty.
Mince is one of the most hardworking ingredients in the kitchen — affordable, quick to cook, and unbelievably versatile. And if you’ve got a solid pantry behind you (the Underground way), a pound of mince can turn into dinners that feel like you’ve put in far more effort than you actually have.
So welcome to our Kitchen Confidence series hub:
“What Can You Do With a Pound of Mince?”
This page is your master list of 12 mince-based recipes — the full collection.
Each month, we’ll pick one recipe from this list and cook it together in the Underground kitchen with:
That way, you build real confidence and end up with a “mince playbook” you can rely on forever.
So welcome to our Kitchen Confidence series hub:
“What Can You Do With a Pound of Mince?”
This is your master list of 12 mince-based recipes — the full collection.
Each month, we’ll pick one recipe from this list and cook it together in the Underground kitchen with:
That way, you build real confidence and end up with a “mince playbook” you can rely on forever.
Mince: Beef
Pantry Heroes: Spice Lab Italian Classic · Rustichella Pomodoro Sauce · Bone Roasters Veal Stock
Technique: Ninja pressure cooker (or stovetop low simmer)
Highlight: Deep, rich sauce — balanced and glossy.
Focus: Balancing acidity and sweetness in tomato sauces.
Mince: Lamb
Pantry Heroes: Bone Roasters Veal Jus · Drunken Sailor Smokey Tomato Relish · Caramelised Onion
Technique: One-pot Ninja workflow (pressure + steam tray)
Highlight: Proper comfort food, with less work.
Focus: Building flavour through steam-pressure efficiency.
Mince: Beef
Pantry Heroes: Bone Roasters Veal Jus · Curry Powder · Smoky BBQ Sauce
Technique: Wok / pan
Highlight: Nostalgic, but upgraded — clean, rich, and flexible.
Focus: Getting maximum flavour from simple pantry staples.
Mince: Beef
Pantry Heroes: Spice Lab Mexican Blend · Drunken Sailor Smokey Tomato Relish · Smokey Chipotle Honey
Technique: Skillet sear
Highlight: Balanced spice + smoke + sweetness.
Focus: Blooming spices early for depth.
Mince: Pork
Pantry Heroes: Spice Lab Greek Souvlaki Zest
Technique: Grill / bake
Highlight: Rested for better flavour + better hold.
Focus: Using time (not effort) to improve results.
Mince: Lamb
Pantry Heroes: Moroccan Magic · Preserved Lemon · Bone Roasters Stock
Technique: Stovetop simmer / air fryer
Highlight: Warm spice + bright citrus + texture.
Focus: Balancing citrus and spice.
Mince: Beef
Pantry Heroes: Inglewood Coffee · Drunken Sailor Smokey Tomato Relish · Lupin Crumb
Technique: Oven bake
Highlight: Coffee gives savoury depth (not “coffee flavour”).
Focus: Layering flavour without overcomplicating.
Mince: Beef
Pantry Heroes: Bone Roasters Red Wine Jus · Smokey Tomato Relish · Chipotle Honey
Technique: Pan-fry / bake
Highlight: Juicy, glossy, never bland.
Focus: Sweet-salt-umami balance in everyday cooking.
Mince: Beef
Pantry Heroes: Smokey Tomato Relish · Chipotle Honey · Almond Dukkah
Technique: Air fryer bake
Highlight: Crunch, colour, and a proper “wow” finish.
Focus: Texture + presentation.
Mince: Beef / lamb / chicken
Pantry Heroes: Curry Blend · Saucy Wench Satay · Tinned apple
Technique: Stovetop
Highlight: Retro comfort with a modern backbone.
Focus: Using natural sweetness to soften spice.
Mince: Beef
Pantry Heroes: Smokey Tomato Relish · Jalapeño & Tequila Relish · Veal Stock
Technique: Ninja pressure cook
Highlight: Big flavour, fast.
Focus: Pressure cooking for depth.
Mince: Pork
Pantry Heroes: Asian Kitchen Salt & Pepper · Chunky Peanut Butter · Saucy Wench Chilli Ginger Lime
Technique: Stir-fry in a seasoned wok
Highlight: Texture heaven + real wok hei.
Focus: Heat control and crunch balance.
A pound of mince isn’t “just mince” — it’s a head start. Nail a few core flavour moves like this one, and you’ll always have a fast dinner up your sleeve that tastes like you planned it.
Chef Ian