Pate Chinois

6 steps · 33 min total

1. 01

   Cook potatoes until tender

   In a large pot of salted water, cook the potatoes until they are very tender. Drain them well.
2. 02

   Mash and purée potatoes

   With a masher, coarsely crush the potatoes with at least 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of butter. You don't need them perfectly smooth yet.

   Switch to an electric mixer to purée them with the milk, then season with salt and pepper. Set the mashed potatoes aside.

3. 03

   Preheat the oven

   Position an oven rack in the middle and preheat the oven to 190 °C (375 °F).
4. 04

   Brown beef and onion

   In a large skillet, brown the onion in the remaining butter. Add the minced beef and cook until it's golden brown and no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper, then remove the skillet from the heat.
5. 05

   Assemble the dish

   Lightly press the cooked meat into the bottom of a 20-cm (8-inch) square baking dish. Spoon the creamed corn evenly over the meat, then top with the mashed potatoes, spreading them to the edges. Finish with a sprinkle of paprika and parsley.
6. 06

   Bake and broil

   Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is lightly golden. For a crispier topping, finish cooking under the broiler for a few minutes, watching closely. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.