Best Traditional Mincemeat Recipes

HOMEMADE MINCEMEAT RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pan, melt butter.
• Add water, fruits, sugar, spices, and alcohol.
• Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring often. Once it boils reduce the heat to low and cook for approximately 30 mins. Continue to stir often.
• The mince is ready when the majority of the liquid has boiled out.
• Let the mince cool completely and then transfer and store in an airtight container.
• The mince should be kept in the refrigerator. The longer you store it the more the flavors will develop.
• The mince will keep for a month if you take some steps. Check on it every week or so and add a tablespoon of rum or brandy and give it a good stir. If you don't take this step the mince will only last a week.

MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Place all of the ingredients except the crust into the bowl of a food processor and pulse 8 to 10 times. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for at least 3 days before using. Can be stored for up to 6 months.
• If you prefer a finer texture of mincemeat place the apples, dried fruit and suet into a meat grinder with a large die and grind. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the remaining ingredients. You may also finely chop the apples, dried fruit and suet by hand.
• Place the flour, cornmeal, 1 1/2 ounces sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Grate the cold butter on the large side of a box grater directly into the dry ingredients. Work together with your hands until the mixture is crumbly. Add the cider and water and stir with a spatula to combine. Knead the dough 5 to 6 times and spritz with additional water if the dough is dry. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Unwrap the dough and divide into 4 equal pieces. Place 2 pieces of the dough onto a piece of parchment paper and roll each out into a 1/8-inch thick round that is 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the mincemeat into the center of each round, fold up the edges of the dough in order to form a crust all the way around. Brush the edges of the crust with egg wash and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Transfer the dough on the parchment to a half sheet pan. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• If you prefer 1 large pie, roll out the dough on a piece of parchment into a 15 to 16-inch round, about 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. Trim the edges with a pizza cutter. Carefully slide the rolled out dough, still on the parchment paper, onto an upside down half sheet pan. Spoon about 1 1/2 pounds of the mincemeat onto the center of the dough, leaving a 2 to 3-inch margin around the edge of the crust. Place in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the crust is golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 to 45 minutes before serving.

HOME CANNED MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Combine meat and suet in pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and simmer until the meat is cooked. (See recipe notes below).
• Drain water off meat (or scoop meat out of water with a mesh strainer.)
• Wash, peel, core and chop the apples, and measure.
• In a large pot or bowl, combine the meat and apple.
• Put the meat mixture through a food grinder using a medium blade. (See recipe notes below).
• Put ground meat mixture in a pot at least 12 litres (quarts) in size.
• Add all remaining ingredients.
• Bring to a boil uncovered, stirring frequently.
• Lower to a simmer and let simmer uncovered for about an hour, to thicken it slightly.
• Stir frequently to prevent scorching.
• Ladle hot mixture into hot 1/2 litre or litre (1 US pint or quart) jars, leaving 3 cm (1 inch) headspace.
• Debubble; adjust headspace.
• Wipe jar rims.
• Put lids on.
• Processing pressure: 10 lbs (69 kPa) weighted gauge, 11 lbs (76 kpa) dial gauge (adjust pressure for your altitude when over 300 metres / 1000 feet.)
• Processing time: Process either size of jar for 90 minutes .

SAVOURY MINCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan, then add onion, celery and carrot and sauté for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
• Add beef mince / ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spatula or wooden spoon, for 8-10 minutes until browned.
• Add flour and stir through, then add in potato, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until potato has cooked and sauce is thickened. If the liquid evaporates too quickly before the potato cooks through, add a little more stock to the saucepan.
• Stir in peas and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. Serve on top of toast, rice or a baked potato.

MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Combine cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Reserve 1 heaped teaspoon for the mincemeat. Store the rest in a small jar for a later use.
• Inspect two 12-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until mincemeat is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Combine apple, sultanas, sugar, currants, raisins, and butter in a saucepan. Cook over low heat and stir gently until butter has melted. Stir in chopped almonds, orange zest, 1 teaspoon of mixed spice, and cinnamon. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set mincemeat aside to cool down for 30 minutes. Stir in brandy. Spoon into sterilized jars.

BEST TRADITIONAL MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except for the brandy and rum in a medium-sized pot and slowly bring to a simmer to prevent scorching. Reduce the heat to LOW and simmer uncovered for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, more towards the end to prevent burning. (If the liquid reduces too soon and the mincemeat starts to stick/scorch on the bottom, add a little bit of apple juice or water.) Stir in the brandy and rum. (Note: If you prefer to have the alcohol cooked out, add them at the same time as the other ingredients.)
• Spoon the hot mincemeat into sterilized jars (spooning it in the jar while hot will ensure the suet rises to the top to create a layer of fat). As the mixture cools the suet will harden, creating a seal to help preserve the mincemeat. *If you're including the beef be sure to refrigerate the mincemeat. If you're storing it for more than a couple of weeks follow the directions in the blog post for pressure canning the mincemeat for longer-term storage.See blog post for additional ways of storing your mincemeat.
• Makes about 1 quart. Feel free to double, triple, etc, as needed.
• Use this mincemeat to make Homemade Mince Pies! (click link for recipe)
• Note: Mincemeat is traditionally stored for several months before using to allow time for the flavors to deepen, however this mincemeat is also delicious eaten within just a few days.

TRADITIONAL MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Soak the raisins and currants in the brandy and lemon juice for 1 hr until plumped up, then drain and set the brandy aside. Mix all the ingredients together in the order given, then pour in the brandy when everything else is well mixed. Spoon and press into sterilised jars, to exclude any air (the easiest way to sterilise jars is to run them through a dishwasher on its hottest setting). Cover and leave for at least a fortnight. Will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.