Total cooking and preparation time approximately 1½ hours

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
½ large or 1 small onion, chopped
2 lb lean minced beef
2 tbsp garlic granules
2 slice fresh white breadcrumbs
2 tbsp cornflour
3 tbsp dried parsley
1 tbsp dried basil
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp chilli sauce
6 rashers streaky bacon
2 tsp salt
2 tsp coarse ground black pepper

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180^oC / gas mark 4.
2. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onion gently for about 3 minutes until softened.
3. Transfer to a large bowl. Add all the other ingredients except the bacon, mix well and form into an oval loaf.
4. Transfer to a shallow baking tray and lay the slices of bacon across the top.
5. Cook in the oven for 1¼ hours. Baste after half an hour, then again after an hour.
6. Leave to rest for 10 minutes then divide into four roughly equal pieces.
7. Serve with broccoli, carrots, baby new potatoes and gravy.