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cottage pie

Cottage Pie

A classic family favourite. Proper British comfort food.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: British
Keyword: Comfort food, Cottage pie
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

For the mince:
  • 800 g Lean minced beef
  • 1 Large onion diced
  • 1 Large carrot diced
  • 2 Sticks of celery diced
  • 1 Bunch of rosemary
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, chopped
  • 2 tbsps Plain flour
  • 1 tbsp Tomato pureé
  • 175 ml Red wine
  • 400 ml Beef stock
  • 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 Bay leaves
  • 300 g Frozen peas
For the topping:
  • 1 kg Maris piper potatoes
  • 400 g Grated cheddar
  • 100 g Butter
  • 1 tsp Ground nutmeg
  • 200 ml Milk

Instructions

  • Over a high heat, add the minced beef into your biggest frying pan. Fry the minced beef until browned all over, break it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
  • Pour in the red wine, and reduce by half. Take it off the heat.
  • In a separate large pan, add the diced onion, carrot and celery and cook over a medium heat until soft.
  • Add the garlic, rosemary, and bay leaves and cook for a further minute.
  • Add the tomato pureé and plain flour, stir in well. Cook for one minute.
  • Pour in the beef stock and the worcestershire sauce.
  • Add the minced beef into the pot with the sauce.
  • Cover with a lid or tin foil and cook over a low heat for 45 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 200℃.
  • Meanwhile, make the mash. In a large saucepan of cold water add the peeled and chopped potatoes, season with salt. Bring it to the boil and simmer until tender.
  • Drain well and allow to steam dry for a few minutes. Mash well with 50g of the butter, 200g of cheese, nutmeg and milk.
  • The sauce should be thick by now, if it has too much liquid, take the lid off and cook over a medium-high heat to reduce some of the liquid. It should be of a thick gravy like consistency.
  • Add the frozen peas and stir in. Taste for seasoning.
  • Spoon the meat into a large ovenproof dish. Spoon the mash over to cover and then sprinkle over the remaining butter and cheese.
  • Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is golden. Leave to stand for a few minutes before dishing it up.