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This Cottage pie recipe is scrumptious and decadent in so many ways. Every bite of this cottage pie will deliver a deep, decadent flavour. 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.

An essential element in creating the perfect cottage pie is properly flavouring the mashed potatoes. For this recipe, we have chosen cream cheese over heavy cream and fresh cream. Cream cheese adds substance to the mashed potatoes, giving them a more solid texture and a light, cheesy, creamy flavour. This is a crucial component in creating a delicious cottage pie, and it makes a massive difference to its taste. Choose a plain-flavoured cream cheese for the recipe. If you choose to use a flavoured cream cheese, omit the celery salt and leave out salt until you have tasted the mashed potatoes. Some flavoured cream cheeses are salty.

Should you use grated cheese on top of the Cottage pie? Some people like to top their mashed potatoes with a generous amount of cheese. We’ve skipped that step in this recipe because the mashed potatoes already have cream and cream cheese, and the dish is already quite decadent, so it doesn’t need it.

Worcestershire sauce and oyster sauce also contribute to the beef mince’s flavor. We have omitted salt from our recipe because these sauces, along with the beef stock cube, provide sufficient sodium to season the meat. Adding lemon juice to beef mince helps neutralize overly intense beefy flavors, allowing the natural flavors to emerge.

For convenience, this recipe uses frozen vegetables, which are readily available at supermarkets and reduce cooking time. However, you can substitute them with your choice of fresh vegetables.

Celery salt is one of the main ingredients in this recipe; it adds that extra oomph 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

The Mashed Potatoes

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.

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.

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.

The Beef Mince & Veggies.

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 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

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 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.

Remove the casserole from the oven. With a spatula, demarcate the portion you want to serve, scooping from the bottom of the casserole so the pie stays in shape.

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?

Cottage pie is a delicious and hearty dish. It contains both vegetables and mashed potatoes. This dish can be served with a side of salad; consider a simple green salad or a red pepper and rocket salad. If you would like to add a Mediterranean flair to this dish, consider Caprese salad or a Greek Salad. A rich and savoury gravy will enhance the flavours of the minced meat. Crusty bread, focaccia bread, and dinner rolls will elevate the meal. Consider Steamed broccolini, Grilled Green beans, or a Simple green salad.