Traditionally, Cottage Pie is made with minced beef, and Shepherd's Pie with minced lamb. The meat and vegetables are then topped with mashed potatoes.
I like to make Cottage Pie with lean minced steak or lean minced beef, chopped celery, carrots and onion. I'm not a fan of Shepherd's Pie. The minced lamb, even after removing all of the fat, still tastes too fatty for me.
This recipe evolved from a Cottage Pie base in the freezer. I simply cooked some new potatoes, crushed them, popped them on top of the defrosted pie base, drizzled some olive oil over the potatoes and cooked the Cottage Pie in a moderate oven for 20 minutes. Some grated cheddar cheese was sprinkled over the potatoes and a few cherry tomatoes tumbled on the top. Freshly ground black pepper was then sprinkled over. Return to the oven until the base is bubbling and the cherry tomatoes start to burst their skins.
I haven't given a recipe for the Cottage Pie base as most of us have our own personal favourite. The recipe I use is one from a Mary Berry book that I have used for years!
I like to make Cottage Pie with lean minced steak or lean minced beef, chopped celery, carrots and onion. I'm not a fan of Shepherd's Pie. The minced lamb, even after removing all of the fat, still tastes too fatty for me.
This recipe evolved from a Cottage Pie base in the freezer. I simply cooked some new potatoes, crushed them, popped them on top of the defrosted pie base, drizzled some olive oil over the potatoes and cooked the Cottage Pie in a moderate oven for 20 minutes. Some grated cheddar cheese was sprinkled over the potatoes and a few cherry tomatoes tumbled on the top. Freshly ground black pepper was then sprinkled over. Return to the oven until the base is bubbling and the cherry tomatoes start to burst their skins.
I haven't given a recipe for the Cottage Pie base as most of us have our own personal favourite. The recipe I use is one from a Mary Berry book that I have used for years!
17 comments:
Hi M, oh this is one of my kind of dishes. My family adore cottage pie! I love the idea of crushed potatoes and cherry toms - thumbs up from me big time!! :)
Wishing you a very Happy Valentines Day M!
I would like to present you on this Valentines Day a Red Rose
http://rosiebakesapeaceofcake.blogspot.com/2008/02/for-my-valentine-cupcakes.html
Rosie x
i've got some cooked mince left over from spag bog. could i easily turn it into a cottage (or shepherd's) pie by adding mashed (or crushed) on top of it, and putting it into the oven, or do I need a base as well?
Hi Maria - there are so many variations on the Cottage Pie meat base now. Your left over mince from spag bol would be perfect and very tasty. The traditional topping of mashed potato has also seen changes such as potato mashed with pureed parsnip. Mashed potatoes topped with leeks, the variations out there are endless! Mx
We are putting a link to your site on here next week. My husband who does all of the techno stuff hasn't been keeping up to date with foodblog land recently!!
Hi Rosie - I hope you had a good Valentine's Day too. Mx
I did end up making cottage pie with spag bog mince, with a Mediterranean twist to it - I really enjoyed it! I have posted it onto the blog - I think you will enjoy the way I wrote about it!
Sometimes the old recipes are simply the best!
Hallelujah! You must be English if you got the Cottage Pie vs. Shepherd's Pie thing right. My English husband (who now lives w/ me in America, bless him) has made it his life's purpose to make sure EVERY American never calls a Cottage Pie a Shepherd's Pie. There are countless Americans that refuse to understand the difference and it makes the poor hubby very mad and frustrated! He tries to explain that shepherds herd sheep (hence, lamb) and cottages cottage beef... see it all makes sense!! There has to be an easier explanation, surely! This looks tasty... leaving the potatoes slightly crushed is really a great idea. Amy @ http://www.neverfull.wordpress.com
Hi M
Loved the cottage pie recipe with crushed potatoes ad cherry tomatoes. Healthy and worth trying. Also loved your Hotel Chocolat - Valetine's Day Chocolate. A beautiful way of describing expressions.
That looks like a comforting dish.
Thank you for your comments.
Great twist on an old favourite - the crushed potatoes is a nice change. At the weekend I made a cottage pie with parsnip and potato mash which was delicious too.
I love this twist on an old favourite of mine. This is comfort food at its best:D
I would have to make it with quorn mince nowdays, but I really like the way you did the potatoes on top, and those tomatoes....mmmmm!
Hi Margaret,
I'm never too sure about cottage pie myself but I like the idea of crushed whole potatoes and tomatoes on top!
Pix
Hi Margaret,
Your cottage pie looks delicious...I love the cherry tomatoes..A beautiful
click!!
Swati
I make cottage pie as well with beef, although we call it incorrectly Shepherd's pie! Mince lamb is not my thing either!
I'll have to make one soon...
Great idea with the potatoes - would be good with Jersey Royals.
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