James Martin served up tasty beef minced consomme with tortellini pasta for the festive season on Home Comforts at Christmas.

James says: “This impressive broth makes an elegant starter to serve at a dinner party, or a warming, filling, healthy family supper.”

The ingredients for the consommé are: 1kg lean beef mince, 2 carrots, chopped, 1 leek, trimmed, roughly chopped, 1 sprig fresh thyme, leaves only, 2 free-range egg whites and 2 litres fresh beef stock.

For the tortellini: 250g type ‘00’ pasta flour, plus extra for dusting, 4 free-range egg yolks, 1 whole free-range egg mixed with 2 tsp cold water, plus 1 free-range egg beaten, 50g ready-made coarse farmhouse pâté, 1 carrot, peeled but left whole and 1 courgette.