Healthy veggie crumble

 

Ingredients

• 1.2ltrl/2pts vegetable stock
• 450g/1lb carrots, peeled and sliced
• 225g/8oz parsnips, peeled, halved and sliced
• 350g/12oz small new potatoes, halved
• 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced
• 150g/5oz frozen peas
• 60ml/4tbsp cornflour
• 60ml4tbsp creme fraiche
• 30ml/2tbsp chopped fresh or 10ml/2tsp dried tarragon
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the topping:

• 175g/6oz plain flour
• 75g/3oz butter
• 15ml/1tbsp English mustard
• 75g/3oz cheddar cheese, grated

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/Fan 180ºC/gas mark 6.
2. Place the stock in a large pan and bring to the boil, add the carrots, parsnips and new potatoes, cover, return to the boil and simmer for 15 mins or until they are tender. Stir in the leeks and peas, return the stock to the boil then remove from the heat. Drain the stock and reserve.
3. Place the vegetables in an ovenproof dish. Discard 300ml/1/2pt of the stock, return the rest to the pan. Mix the cornflour to a smooth paste with a little cold water and stir into the stock with the creme fraiche and tarragon.
4. Bring the mixture to the boil, stirring until you have a smooth creamy sauce. Simmer for 1 min. Pour the sauce over the vegetables and season well.
5. Place all the topping ingredients in a food processor with a good pinch of salt and ground black pepper; whizz together until they resemble fine breadcrumbs. If you haven’t got a food processor, your your fingers to rub the butter into the flour. Stir in the mustard and cheese and rub together again until you have a crumbly mixture.
6. Scatter the mixture over the top of the vegetables then bake for 20 mins or until the top is golden brown. Serve as a vegetarian main course or vegetable side dish.