Minced Veal Potato Pie

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds Ground veal (For the mince)
• 4 ounces Ham, diced (Mixed into veal)
• 1 medium Onion, finely chopped (For the mince)
• 2 tablespoons Butter (For cooking mince)
• 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour (For thickening)
• 1.5 cups Beef or veal stock (For gravy)
• 1 teaspoon Salt (To taste)
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper (Freshly ground)
• 0.5 teaspoon Dried thyme (Optional)
• 3 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (For mashed potato crust)
• 0.5 cup Milk (For mashed potatoes)
• 4 tablespoons Butter (For mashed potatoes)
• 1 teaspoon Salt (For mashed potatoes)
• 4 slices White bread, crusts removed (For sippets)
• 3 tablespoons Butter (For frying sippets)

Instructions

1. 1Place cubed potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well and return to pot. Add butter, milk, and salt, then mash until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
2. 2Cut bread slices into small squares and diamond shapes, about 1/2 inch in size. Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat and fry the bread pieces until golden brown and crispy on all sides, about 3-4 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.
3. 3Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add ground veal and diced ham, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Cook until veal is browned, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
4. 4Sprinkle flour over the cooked meat mixture and stir well to coat. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually add the stock, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a simmer and cook until the gravy thickens, about 5 minutes. The mixture should be rich and saucy.
5. 5Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread half of the mashed potatoes evenly across the bottom and up the sides of the dish to form a crust. Pour the veal mince mixture with gravy into the potato-lined dish. Arrange the fried bread sippets decoratively on top of the meat. Spread the remaining mashed potatoes over the top, creating a thick crust that covers the filling completely.
6. 6Place the assembled pie in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.