Beef Sliders (with hidden veggies!)

I hope you are all settling into the the new year year nicely. I for one am enjoying getting back into the regular routine, but of course that means we have had to pick up the pace at home (extra murals, social events and, very soon, school runs - you know the drill) and that means that I need delicious and healthy meals that can be prepared on the double!

The other day I was preparing pizza dough for a photo shoot when my four year old came over to me, wide-eyed and asked cautiously "Mom, is that sugar free?". (Whaaaat?!) Things are so different these days - when I was growing up there was little concern over sugar content and none of us knew what gluten was! I am glad we have more of an awareness now, and I have assured Little Miss that she can leave it to me to take on the role of sugar policeman.

One of the ways I do this besides trying to make good food choices, is by making home cooked meals a priority, but I have chatted to many friends who say that this is something they dread. Let's face it, making sure that the kids regularly eat balanced meals can be quite a task, and is it just me, but do they somehow know when you have gone to extra lengths to prepare something special and reject it in a proportionate amount?

So today I am sharing a meal idea that I hope will come in handy. These beef sliders have "fast food" appeal and taste delicious but with the bonus of containing three hidden vegetables that the kids will probably not even notice. They can also be made ahead of time - why not make a double batch and pop them in the freezer for a quick lunch or supper?

These sliders are not just for the kiddos by the way. Customise them with your favourite toppings for a fabulous snack. 

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BEEF SLIDERS 

Makes 8

350g lean beef mince

1/2 onion (about 75g), very finely chopped

1 medium carrot (about 100g), finely grated

1 small courgette (about 60g), finely grated with skin on

1 tsp dried mixed herbs

2 tbsp breadcrumbs

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper

sunflower oil for frying

To serve:

8 cocktail rolls

fresh lettuce leaves

8 small slices of tomato

8 slices of cheese

your favourite sauces

Step 1.) Place the beef mince and onion in a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the grated carrot and courgette gently to get rid of any excess liquid, then add to the bowl with the herbs, breadcrumbs and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper. 

Step 2.) Use your hands to mix everything together very well until everything is combined. Divide the mixture into 8 equal balls and shape each ball into a patty. 

Step 3.) Heat a little sunflower oil in a griddle pan or frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the patties for 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. 

Step 4.) To assemble: cut the cocktail rolls in half and top with with some fresh lettuce, a slice of tomato, the cooked patty, a slice of cheese and your favourite sauce. Serve with sweet potato fries.