Cottage Pie. – Recipe

Here’s a warm and comforting recipe for Cottage Pie — a traditional British dish made with ground beef and vegetables in a savory gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden.

🥧🇬🇧 Classic Cottage Pie

✅ Ingredients:

For the meat filling:

1 lb (450g) ground beef
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 cup frozen peas or mixed vegetables
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp thyme (dried or fresh)
½ tsp rosemary (optional)
2 tbsp flour (to thicken)
1 cup beef broth
Salt and pepper to taste

For the mashed potato topping:

2 lbs (900g) potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 tbsp butter
¼ cup milk (or cream)
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated

🥣 Instructions:

1. Make the mashed potatoes:

Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (about 15–20 min).
Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

2. Cook the filling:

Heat oil in a skillet. Sauté onion and carrot for 5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, and flour. Cook for 1 minute.
Add broth and simmer for 5–10 minutes, until thickened.
Stir in peas (or frozen veg) and season to taste.

3. Assemble the pie:

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Spread the meat mixture in a baking dish (about 8×8 or similar).
Spoon mashed potatoes over the top and spread evenly. Use a fork to create ridges (helps with browning).
Optional: sprinkle grated cheese on top.

4. Bake:

Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling at the edges.
For a crispier top, broil for the last 2–3 minutes.

🍽️ Serve with:

A side salad, steamed green beans, or roasted Brussels sprouts.

🔄 Variations:

Shepherd’s Pie: Use ground lamb instead of beef.
Low-carb version: Swap mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower.
Make ahead: Assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hrs before baking.