How can you not love, a good old English Cottage Pie! A tummy warming comfort food, which I have been enjoying since I was old enough to hold a fork! I shall never bore of it! It’s right up there with homemade fresh bread! and Traditional English Scones! Both of which I could not live without! My British is showing isn’t it?! ;o)
What Is A Cottage Pie?
Basically a Cottage pie is an English casserole, made from minced beef, gravy, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. It’s a budget friendly meal that English families have been enjoying for Centuries!…
Cottage Pie Origins
We have to go back quite a few years to explore the beginnings of Cottage Pie! British cookbooks dating back to the 18th century document recipes for “cottage pie,”. It’s believed the dish got its name from the humble dwellings in which it was first served…
Towards the end of the 18th century, the poorer classes, those whom lived in the country in small cottages, began to use potatoes as an everyday, staple food.
The ‘Cottage Pie’ made use of homegrown Potatoes and leftover meats. It was an affordable 1 pot savoury meal that satisfied a lot of hungry families back when food was sometimes scarce. It was a peasant food dish, that has shown itself to have incredible longevity! Generation after generation later, and we are still enjoying it!
Whats The Difference Between A Cottage Pie and A Shepherds Pie?
I know, they look the same don’t they? Both are a meat casserole topped with mashed potato. But there is a slight difference. Cottage Pie is made with beef and Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb!
This recipe can be quickly transformed from a Cottage Pie to a Shepherds pie, simply by switching out the minced beef, for minced lamb.
What To serve with Cottage Pie
- A selection of Vegetables such as, Broccoli, Beans, Kale and carrots
- My Home made Yorkshire puddings! Omg their good!
- Serve alongside some Herby Chips!
- Try it with some American style biscuits!
- Mop it up with some crusty Dinner Rolls
How To Make an English Cottage pie
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What You’ll Need
*As always the full detailed recipe can be found on the Recipe card at the end of the post
Ingredients
- Minced beef
- Onion, diced
- Carrots, diced
- Garden Peas
- Plain flour
- Mixed herbs
- Beef stock
- Tomato puree
- salt and pepper to season
- Potatoes, peeled and quartered
- Milk
- Butter, softeneded
- Grated Cheddar cheese
Directions
- Heat a large skillet pan over a medium heat. Add the Oil and cook the minced beef until browned, this should take around 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, Peas and carrots and cook for a further 5 minutes until the onion has softened.
- Mix in the flour and mixed herbs
- Add the beef stock and tomato puree to a jug and mix together. Pour the stock into the pan and season with salt and pepper. Lower heat and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, stir occasionally, until it begins to thicken.
- Preheat the oven 200 c
- Place the potatoes in a pan; cover with water and place over a high heat. Bring to the boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender and softened, about 20-25 minutes. Drain the potatoes. Add the milk and butter and mash or Whip (I like to to use a handmixer for this part) until smooth and fluffy. *You may need less milk, you be the judge
- Spoon the minced beef mixture into a 9 x 13 oven safe dish, spread the mashed potatoes on top, drag a fork on top to create ridges in the mash and sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese, season well with salt and pepper
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 25-30 minutes until the potatoes have browned and the filling is bubbling
How to Store Cottage Pie
- Store Cottage Pie in The Fridge: Store left over cottage pie in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5days. Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
- To freeze Cottage Pie: Place portions of Cottage pie in Zip lock freezer bags and freeze for upto 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the oven until warmed through.
LOOKING FOR OTHER easy SAVOURY RECIPES? TRY THESE…
- Rustic Vegetable Quiche
- Honey And Lemon Sticky Chicken Wings
- American Style Biscuits
- 4 ingredient Yorkshire Puddings
- Crispy Kale
- Creamy Garlic Mushrooms
- Crispy Baked Sage Leaves
- Airfryer Sweetcorn
LOOKING FOR MORE ‘HOMELY’ INSPO ?
Have a Nosey Around the Blog! See what i’ve been Decorating, Baking, Growing and Brewing!
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE ?
If so, Please leave a rating and comment below, I would love to know what you thought. Did you take a picture? Great! tag me on Instagram, I love to share your creations on my stories
Easy English Cottage Pie
Ingredients
- 500 g Minced Beef
- 1 tbsp Vegetable oil for cooking
- 1 Diced Onion
- 1 tin Garden Peas
- 3 Diced Carrots
- 2 tbsp Plain Flour
- 1 tbsp Mixed Herbs
- 360 ml Beef Stock
- 1 tbsp Tomatoe Puree
- Salt & Pepper to season
- 4-5 Potatoes, Peeled and Quartered
- 230 ml milk
- 60 g Softened butter
- 1 handful Grated Cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet pan over a medium heat. add the vegetable oil and Cook the minced beef until browned, this should take around 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, peas and carrot and cook for a further 5 minutes until the onion has softened.
- Mix in the flour and mixed herbsAdd the beef stock and tomato puree to a jug and mix together. Pour the stock into the pan and season with salt and pepper.
- Lower heat and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, stir occasionally, until it begins to thicken.
- Preheat the oven to 200 c
- Meanwhile, place the potatoes in a pan; cover with water and place over a high heat. Bring to the boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender and softened, about 20-25 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes. Add the milk and butter and mash or Whip (I like to to use a handmixer for this part) until smooth and fluffy. *You may need less milk, you be the judge
- Spoon the minced beef mixture into a 9 x 13 oven safe dish, spread the mashed potatoes on top, drag a fork on top to create ridges in the mash and sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese, season well with salt and pepper
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 25-30 minutes until the potatoes have browned and the filling is bubbling
- Serve alone or with a handful of yorkshire puddings ;o)**See post for other serving suggestions
