Soya mince can be fairly bland but you can add lots of flavours to enhance the taste.

Has chef any tips on making a cottage pie using soya as the one I make lacks flavour?

James Blackmore, Cockermouth

Soya mince can be fairly bland but you can add lots of flavours to enhance the taste of the soya. When you start cooking your mince, add plenty of finely chopped onion and some crushed garlic. Look out for some vegetarian Worcester sauce to give a bit of heat. When the mince is nearly ready, add some freshly chopped thyme and basil. When you make your mash to top your cottage pie, add a few parsnips to the potatoes to enhance the flavour of the potatoes and finish with some olive oil. When you oven bake your cottage pie, add some cheddar cheese to the top of the pie to give a lovely cheeses finish to the dish.