Cottage Pie

Are you looking for a warm and hearty meal that is delicious and easy to make at home? Well, we’ve got an amazing cottage pie recipe for you. This recipe is scrumptious and decadent in so many ways.

Our Cottage pie recipe differs from the traditional, old-fashioned recipe in more ways than one. When you try it, you will be hooked for life. It’s that good. I’ve received compliments on this cottage pie: it tastes luxurious, high-end, and sophisticated. 😊

Why You Will Love Cottage Pie?

Every bite of this cottage pie will deliver a deep and decadent taste. We’ve cooked the beef mince and created a rich gravy. The aromatic vegetables, along with the Worcestershire sauce, create a unique medley of flavours. The creamy mashed potatoes infused with butter will produce golden, crispy peaks that are a perfect contrast to the meaty filling.

You can double or triple this recipe to last throughout the week. It takes less than one hour to make and bake in the oven.

The History of Cottage Pie

Cottage pie originated in the late 18th century. During that time, potatoes were making their foray into Britain and Ireland. Just imagine: prior to their entry into these markets, potatoes were considered exotic. Nowadays, potatoes have become a staple around the world and are incorporated into many cuisines.

Do you know Cottage pie uses beef mince, whereas Shepherd’s pie uses lamb mince?

The concept of Cottage pie arose from a desire to stretch leftovers. The working class would mince up their roast beef and cook it with onions and vegetables.

Topping it with mashed potatoes was an alternative to the pricey pastry crusts used in their traditional pies. In an effort to save money, cottage pie was considered a resourceful dish. This incredible dish grew popular and soon became a favourite meal in many homes.

Ingredients

Beef mince, Cream cheese, Potatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Oyster Sauce, Celery salt, Butter, Beef Stock Cube, Store-bought frozen vegetables (Carrots, Peas, Corn and Green Beans), Onion and Lemon.

One key element in creating a perfect cottage pie is the beef stock cube. It adds depth and flavour to the gravy sauce. Another factor that contributes to the taste is cream cheese, which is used in the mashed potatoes. Some people add a ton of cheese on top of the mashed potatoes. In this recipe, we chose to skip that part as this dish is extremely decadent and doesn’t require the addition of cheese.

However, you can modify the recipe to suit your taste. If you decide to use cheese as an additional topping, make sure to choose one with more creaminess and less salt. Balance is everything when it comes to assembling a dish.

Worcestershire sauce and oyster sauce add much flavour to the beef mince. We’ve skipped out on using salt, as the above condiments, along with the beef stock cube, will provide the right amount of sodium to flavor the meat. Using lemon in the beef mince will help to neutralize the overly beefy flavor while allowing the natural flavors to shine through.

Frozen vegetables are used in this recipe; they are easy to find in the supermarket and reduce the time spent in the cooking process. You can use fresh vegetables of your choice.

Celery salt is the secret ingredient in this recipe; it adds that extra oomph to this recipe that will have your guests wondering, ‘What is that unique flavour, and where does it come from?’ If you don’t have celery salt, you can incorporate chopped celery into the beef mince. Make sure to finely chop it so that it doesn’t interfere with the overall texture of the beef mince.

Instructions

Prepare the ingredients: Peel the potatoes, rinse them in running water, and boil them for fifteen minutes or until they are soft. You can tell if they are soft by poking them with a fork, and the fork should go in without any resistance.

Whilst the potatoes are boiling, prepare other ingredients like cream cheese, milk, frozen mixed vegetables, minced beef, beef stock, sliced onion, celery salt, Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, regular salt, and ground black pepper.

Mash the potatoes: When fully cooked, drain the water from the potatoes and press down on them with a fork. Add the cream cheese when the potatoes are mashed. The cream cheese will enhance the overall flavour and texture of the mashed potatoes. Adding a bit of Celery salt is a trick to making delicious mashed potatoes. It subtly adds to the taste, but this trick will make the mashed potato incredibly addictive.

Add milk to adjust consistency: Mixing cream cheese and mashed potatoes together can make them thick and gloopy. So, it is important to loosen the mixture by adding milk.

The addition of milk instantly softens, smooths, and creams the mashed potatoes, achieving that velvety, creamy texture everyone loves.

Sauté the vegetables: Now, let’s prepare the vegetables. Preheat a pot on medium-high heat. Drizzle the olive or any cooking oil you prefer, then add the sliced onions and cook for a minute. When the onions become translucent, add the frozen vegetables and continue to sauté for two minutes while stirring occasionally. 

Cook the minced beef: Add the minced meat to the wok. Also, add the beef stock cube, freshly squeezed lemon juice, oyster sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Separate the minced beef during the cooking process. The vegetables will release water, which will help the beef cook faster.

Adjust the temperature to medium-low and cook for twenty minutes or until most liquid evaporates. Stir occasionally to ensure all the ingredients are well-cooked and all the flavours have melded. Preheat the oven to 180ºC / 356ºF.

Transfer and bake the ingredients: Transfer the vegetables and the beef mince to a casserole. Then, layer the mashed potatoes on top of the vegetable-beef fillings. Create dentures and grooves on the mashed potatoes, which will create golden crescents when they are baked. Bake the cottage pie for twenty minutes in the oven at 180ºC / 356ºF with the fan on.

If your oven doesn’t have a fan, increase the temperature to 200ºC / 400ºF and increase the baking time to twenty-five minutes. Make sure to watch your cottage pie without opening the oven every five minutes to ensure that it is cooking accordingly.

Serve immediately: Remove the casserole from the oven. With a spatula, demarcate the portion you want to serve, scooping against the casserole from the bottom so that the pie stays in shape. Serve with your favorite drink.

Expert Tip on Cottage Pie

Once out of the oven, let the cottage pie rest for five to ten minutes. This will allow the filling to settle and firm up, ensuring that the pie holds its shape.

How to Store Cottage Pie?

Make sure that the cottage pie has cooled completely. Transfer to an airtight container. It will keep for up to three to four days. If your fridge has space, cover the casserole with foil or clingwrap and place it in the refrigerator. Freeze the cottage pie for up to three months. To reheat, bake from cold for twenty minutes at 180 Celsius.

What can you Serve with Cottage Pie?

There are many side dishes that will work well with Cottage pie. Consider Steamed broccolini, Grilled Green beans, or a Simple green salad.