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A savory cottage pie, also known as shepherd's pie with beef, topped with mashed potatoes.

Quick way to grow a Cottage Pie (Shepherd's Pie with Beef)

This recipe provides a quick and delicious way to prepare a classic Cottage Pie, featuring a rich beef filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, perfect for a comforting family meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 500 g beef mince
  • 1 onions chopped
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 2 celery sticks chopped
  • 400 ml beef stock
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp plain flour
  • 1 kg potatoes for mashing
  • 50 ml milk
  • 25 g butter
  • 50 g cheddar cheese grated
Seasoning
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Equipment

  • oven
  • large oven-safe pan or casserole dish
  • pot
  • potato masher
  • fork

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Peel and chop potatoes, then boil in salted water until tender for mashing.
  2. While potatoes cook, heat oil in a large oven-safe pan or casserole dish. Add chopped onions, carrots, and celery, cooking until softened.
Cooking
  1. Add beef mince to the pan and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Stir in flour, then tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  3. Mash the cooked potatoes with milk, butter, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
  4. Spoon the mashed potato mixture over the beef filling in the pan, spreading it evenly and creating peaks with a fork.
  5. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

Notes

For an extra rich flavor, you can add a splash of red wine to the beef mince when browning. If you don't have an oven-safe pan, transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish before adding the mashed potato.