This is an easy English Cottage Pie for families and friends to enjoy. Recreate this warming, delicious, hearty dish in just 30 minutes!
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Who doesn’t love cottage Pie? The fluffy potato exterior, the beefy filling, the steamed veggies, and the rich sauce all in one delicious bite! This is the recipe for you if you’re planning a feast or a party with your family and friends. Rich flavor combinations make up this traditional UK dish.
Cottage Pie is a traditional dish of the United Kingdom; its oldest variations come from Ireland. However, the modern version of Shepherd’s Pie is celebrated as a Scottish dish. Its roots can be traced back to the emerald country, even though it has many different names.
You may also enjoy this Best Chicken and Mushroom Pie.
Why This Recipe Works
- This English cottage pie is a rich, flavorful, comforting dinner option perfect for the cooler seasons.
- The cheesy mashed potato topping melts in your mouth and complements the meat filling well.
- Serve it plain or alongside Easy Honey Roasted Parsnips, Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts.
- You can halve, double or triple the recipe to feed as many people as you like.
Tips and Substitutions
- Cheese: If you are not a fan of cheese, feel free to omit it from the English cottage pie topping.
- Filling: If the filling is too thin, thicken it by combining 1-2 tablespoon of plain flour and 2 tablespoon of water, pouring the mixture into the meat filling at step 3, and stirring.
- Potatoes: Make sure the potatoes are mashed well and do not contain any lumps to create a smooth and delicious texture for the topping.
How to Make English Cottage Pie
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
1. Add plummed tomatoes to a blender and blitz until they are finely chopped into small pieces. Set aside for now.
2. Heat a splash of oil in a large pan. Add onions and cook until they are soft. Then add minced beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the beef turns brown.
3. Pour the blended tomatoes into the pan and bring it to a boil. Add salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaf, and let it cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
4. Remove the meat filling from the heat and pour it into a deep pan oven dish. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius/180 degrees Celsius Fan/Gas 6.
5. While heating up, peel potatoes and cut them into similarly-sized chunks. Add them to a saucepan and cover them with water. Cook for 12-15 minutes until they are soft. Then, drain the water and add milk and butter before you mash them. Cover with the mashed potatoes. Sprinkle cheese on top before placing it in the oven.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
7. Serve this comforting English cottage pie with Roasted Cheesy Garlic Asparagus or Quick Cauliflower in Air Fryer.
Recipe FAQs
Since this dish contains many thick and dense ingredients, it may get too hard if left in the fridge for long. Place leftover English cottage pie in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the microwave.
More Tasty European Recipes
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English Cottage Pie
Equipment
- 1 Oven dish
Ingredients
- 500 g minced beef
- 1 can of plumed tomatoes blended
- ¼ cup of peas
- ¼-½ cup of carrots
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 1-2 tablespoon of plain flour
- A pinch of thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 750 g potatoes
- 50 g of butter
- ¼ cup of milk
- 100 g cheddar optional
Instructions
- Add plummed tomatoes to a blender and blitz until they are finely chopped into small pieces. Set aside for now.
- In a large pan, heat a splash of oil. Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes or until they soften. Then add minced beef, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the meat turns brown.
- Add the blended tomatoes to the pan and bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaf, and let it cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove your mince mix from the heat and set aside for a moment. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius/180 degrees Celsius Fan/Gas 6. Then, peel potatoes and cut them into similarly-sized chunks. Add them to a saucepan and cover them with water. Cook for 12-15 minutes until they are soft. Then, drain the water and add milk and butter before you mash them.
- Add the minced beef to an oven dish. Cover with the mashed potatoes. Sprinkle cheese on top before placing it in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Notes
- Serving: Let the cottage pie cool before you serve it.
- Vegetables: Add your preferred choice of vegetables when making the pie.
- Filling: To thicken the filling, add 1-2 tablespoon of plain flour and 2 tablespoon of water. Mix it until combined, then add to the minced beef pan.
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