Cottage Pie

  • Total time - 75 minutes
  • Prep time - 25 minutes
  • Cook time - 50 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Country: Great Britain
Cottage Pie on a plate, with a browned and golden mashed potato crust and the beef filling visible underneath.

Cottage Pie is an old and beloved British comfort food. It's a variation of Shepherd's Pie, but with minced beef, which gives it a richer, more robust flavor. This recipe is perfect for using up leftover meat or as a great meal for a family dinner.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Cottage Pie

  • 500 g ground beef
  • 1 pc onion, finely chopped
  • 2 pcs carrots, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 400 ml beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 100 g peas, frozen
  • 1000 g potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 50 g butter
  • 100 ml milk
  • to taste salt and black pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Meat Filling

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until cooked through. Add the onion and carrots and sauté for about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for another minute. Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Stir in the peas and season with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Preparing the Mashed Potato Topping

Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain them and mash with the butter, warm milk, salt, and pepper until smooth.

Step 3: Assembling and Baking

Preheat your oven to 190 °C. Spoon the meat mixture into a baking dish and spread it evenly. Top with the mashed potato, spreading it over the meat mixture. Use a fork to create a pattern on the surface of the mash, which will help it brown nicely.

Step 4: Serving

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Let the pie rest for 5 minutes before serving.