Best Burger Cottage Pie With Cheesy Mash Topping Food

COTTAGE PIE WITH CHEESY TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, carrot and celery. Cook for a few minutes, then crumble in the beef. Cook, stirring frequently until the beef has browned.
• Sprinkle the flour over top and cook, stirring for about a minute, then add the stock, tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce. Season with some salt and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 45 minutes over low heat. Stir occasionally.
• While the filling is cooking, prepare the potato topping. Put the potatoes into a saucepan of lightly salted water to cover. Bring to the boil. Cook at a quick simmer for about 20 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain well and return to the saucepan. Shake the pan over the residual heat of the burner for a few minutes to dry the potatoes out.
• Mash the potatoes with the butter and milk until soft and lump free. Stir in the cheese until it melts. Season to taste with some salt and pepper. (Remember cheese is quite salty.)
• Spoon the meat filling into a deep dish or into 6 smaller deepish dishes. Spread the cheesy potato mash over top to cover, roughing it up a bit.
• Bake in a 400*F/200*C/ gas mark 6 oven for 20 to 25 minutes for small pies, or 35 to 40 minutes for a larger pie. When done the meat filling will be bubbling and the potato topping will be golden brown.
• Serve hot with a vegetable or salad on the side.

ENGLISH COTTAGE PIE WITH CHEDDAR AND PARSNIP MASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/fan160ºC/gas 4.
• Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and add the onion and carrot and cook, stirring for 5 minutes.
• Add the mince, turning the heat up and cook for 5 minutes until it is completely browned; Add the tomato puree, stir for 1 minute and add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and thyme.
• Bring it to the boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes; Uncover and cook for a further 5-10 minutes until most of the liquid has been absorbed; Check the seasoning and then spoon into a 2 litre ovenproof dish.
• For the mash, cut the parsnips and potatoes into medium sized pieces and put into a large pan of cold salted water; Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender; Drain and return to the pan for 30 seconds to get rid of any excess moisture; Mash with the milk and nutmeg, season and set aside.
• Spoon the mash onto the mince; Rough it up with a fork and sprinkle with the cheese.
• Bake for 25 minutes, until the mash is golden and crisp in places.

TRADITIONAL ENGLISH COTTAGE PIE WITH CHEESE AND LEEK TOPPING

Steps:

• To make the pie filling:.
• Fry the onions and carrots if using, in the butter or beef dripping until they are soft.
• Add the minced/chopped beef and cook for about 10 to 20 minutes or until the onion and carrot have browned and the minced beef has taken on some colour and is firm. (It also depends if you are using cooked or raw minced beef.).
• Season well with salt and pepper, then add the mixed herbs. Stir in the flour, and mix well.
• Mix the tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce with the stock and add it to the meat mixture, bringing it all to simmering point. Simmer until the stock has reduced by aboout a third, add the peas if using and take off the heat. Set aside whilst you make the topping.
• To make the topping:.
• Boil the potatoes in slightly salted water then mash them well, adding half of the butter and all of the milk gradually. Season to taste.
• If using fresh leeks, fry the leeks gently in the remaining butter, until soft and slightly coloured.
• Stir the cooked leeks into the mashed potato mixture and give it all a good mix.
• Assemble:.
• Put the meat mixture into a large and deep well greased baking dish and spread the potato mixture on top; then sprinkle with the grated cheese. You can also use 4 - 6 smaller pie dishes if you wish.
• Put into a pre-heated oven, 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6 for about 25 to 30 minutes until the topping is crusty, golden and bubbling.
• Serve with an assortment of fresh seasonal vegetables and a jug of gravy.