Cottage pie (minced beef and mashed potato bake)

Cottage pie is shepherd's pie's beef cousin: a spiced, vegetable-rich beef ragout topped with mashed potato and baked. Its name (cottage) points to it being a simple, homely country dish that's also easy to make from leftover meat.

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Method

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1. Peel and dice the potatoes, boil in salted water until soft, then mash to a creamy purée with the butter and milk.
2. Fry the onion, celery and carrot in the oil, add the garlic, then the minced beef, and fry, breaking it up, until browned.
3. Sprinkle with flour, fry briefly, then stir in the tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaf.
4. Pour in the stock, season with salt and pepper, and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes, until the ragout is saucy but not runny. ⏱ Timer: 15 min
5. Pour the ragout into a baking dish, spread the mashed potato evenly on top, and sprinkle with grated cheese if using.
6. Bake at 200°C (180°C fan) for 25-30 minutes, until golden with patchy brown spots on top. ⏱ Timer: 25 min

A Receptnaptár original recipe. Calories and protein are estimated.

Tips

• Use beef, as that's what distinguishes it from the lamb-based shepherd's pie.
• Celery and carrot give the ragout its basic sweet, vegetal flavour, don't skip them.
• The cheese on top gives a crisp, golden crust, but can be left out.
• Let it stand for a few minutes before serving so the ragout doesn't spread when sliced.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use other meat?

Yes, turkey or pork also work, but the traditional recipe uses beef.

How can I make the sauce richer?

With a little red wine or a teaspoon of dark soy sauce, which gives the ragout a deeper flavour.

Similar recipes

• Shepherd's pie (minced lamb and mashed potato bake) · British
• Salisbury steak with mushroom onion gravy and mash · American
• Hambagu (Japanese hamburger steak with sauce) · Japanese
• Peremyach (Tatar open fried meat pies) · Russian
• Meatloaf (American) · American
• Belyashi (Tatar-Russian fried meat pies) · Russian

More british ideas

• Fish and chips (battered fried fish with chips)
• Sunday roast (roast beef with vegetables)
• Yorkshire pudding (baked batter puffs for roasts)
• Bangers and mash (sausages with mashed potato and gravy)
• Toad in the hole (sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter)

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