This cottage pie recipe is the ultimate comfort food and can be frozen for up to 3 months. Serve with mashed potatoes and peas.
Cottage pie is a traditional British dish that can be made with either beef or chicken. The filling is made from minced meat, onion, and mashed potato, topped with cheddar cheese. This cottage pie recipe uses ready-made puff pastry for the base of the pie to make it more convenient.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 lbs (1 kg) lean beef, diced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, thinly sliced
- 1 celery stick, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tin of plum tomatoes with juice or 500g fresh tomatoes chopped
- 6fl oz (175ml) liquid stock or water – you can use chicken or vegetable stock here if you wish to make this vegetarian-friendly! Just use enough liquid so that the final mixture is moist.
HOW TO MAKE COTTAGE PIE?
- To make cottage pie, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan then fry the onion and garlic for 5 mins until softened.
- Add beef or turkey mince and stir until well coated with oil.
- Add potatoes, carrots, and stock then bring to the boil then reduce heat, and simmer for 20 mins until tender.
- Stir in thyme leaves and season with salt & pepper to taste
TIPS TO FOLLOW
Making a cottage pie is a great way to use up leftover meat and potatoes. Here are some tips to follow while making your own cottage pie:
- Use any type of minced meat – beef or chicken.
- Add some chopped onion to the filling.
- Use mashed potato for the topping, and top with cheddar cheese.
- For a more convenient option, use ready-made puff pastry for the base of the pie.
- Make sure you cook the meat thoroughly. It’s important to ensure that your meat is cooked. You can use a meat thermometer to check if the meat is cooked properly.
Following these tips, you’ll be sure to create a delicious cottage pie that everyone will love.
WHAT TO SERVE?
If you’re looking for a hearty and filling meal, cottage pie is a great option. It’s also a dish that’s easy to make ahead of time, which is always a bonus. But what should you serve with it? Here are a few ideas.
- One classic option is to serve cottage pie with peas. This is a simple and classic combination that is sure to please everyone at the table.
- Another option is to serve it with a side of carrots. This is a great way to add some extra veg to the meal.
- If you want to keep things simple, you could just serve cottage pie on its own. It’s a complete meal in itself, so you don’t need to worry about side dishes.
Whatever you decide to serve with your cottage pie, it’s sure to be a hit with the whole family.
HOW DO YOU STORE LEFTOVER COTTAGE PIE?
If you have leftover cottage pie, it’s important to store it properly to ensure that it stays fresh and tasty. The first thing to do is to make sure that the pie is cooled completely. Once it’s cooled, you can store it in the fridge for up to three days.
If you want to keep the pie for longer than that, you can freeze it. When you’re ready to eat it, defrost the pie overnight in the fridge and then reheat it in the oven until it’s piping hot. Enjoy your leftover cottage pie!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COTTAGE PIE AND SHEPHERD’S PIE?
Cottage pie and shepherd’s pie are both traditional British dishes made with minced meat and mashed potatoes. The difference between the two is that shepherd’s pie is made with lamb, while cottage pie can be made with beef or chicken. Both pies are typically topped with cheddar cheese.
