Cottage Pie With A Difference Food

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the onion, celery and carrot, stirring them over a brisk heat but not allowing them to brown.
• After 5 minutes or so add the garlic, reduce the heat and soften everything together.
• Increase the heat again and add the ground beef, stirring until browned.
• Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, wine and stock, season and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Boil the potatoes until soft and mash them with the milk until smooth and creamy.
• Spoon the meat mixture into a gratin dish and cover with a thick, even layer of mashed potato.
• Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 45-55 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with seasonal vegetables.

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Heat half of the oil in a large frying pan or cast iron casserole dish.
• Brown the meat, which would take approximately 5 minutes, then remove from the pan. Place the meat in a sieve to remove excess fat.
• Using the same pan, add the remaining oil, then fry the onion, garlic, carrots, thyme and rosemary over a medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until the excess moisture has evaporated.
• Add the browned mince back into the pan along with the tomatoes and tomato puree. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add red wine and Worcestershire sauce and simmer until the liquid has been reduced by half.
• Pour in stock and bring it to a slow simmer. Continue to cook for 20-25 minutes. If the meat sauce doesn't seem thick enough, continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes.
• Stir in mushrooms and peas, then season to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 180˚C/fan 160˚C/356˚F/gas 4.
• Meanwhile, add the potatoes to a pan of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, which will take about 10-15 minutes. Drain then return to the pan and leave to steam dry.
• Pass the potatoes through a potato ricer then return the mash to the pan.
• Stir in the butter, cheese and egg yolk, then season to taste.
• Spoon the mince into a large ovenproof casserole dish and even out the layer.
• Top the mince with mash and level out with a fork. Run the fork along the mash to leave a ripple effect that will help the topping become crispy.
• Sprinkle over extra cheese, if you prefer, then place in the oven for 30 minutes.
• Serve immediately. It goes well with cauliflower cheese and braised red cabbage. Enjoy!

COTTAGE PIE WITH A DIFFERENCE

Steps:

• The filling: Finely chop the onions and garlic and gently fry until transparent in the olive oil.
• (approx 3 minutes) Cube the carrots and put those into the pan with the onions and the garlic, cook for another 2 or so minutes.
• Add the rest of the ingredients.
• If too dry add a little water.
• When cooked put into a ovenproof casserole.
• The topping: Boil the potatoes until cooked.
• Mash them adding the milk and half of the butter.
• Add the grated cheese and mix well.
• Put the mash mix on top of the filling.
• You may wish to sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top of this.
• Slice the tomatoes and place on top of the topping, putting a knob of butter on each tomato.
• Bake in a moderate oven for 40- 50 minutes, until the tomatoes are cooked, and the top is brown and slightly crispy.

COTTAGE PIE (OR SHEPHERD'S PIE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Make mashed potatoes: Add potatoes to a saucepan with 3 inches of water. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook until fork tender, about 12-15 minutes.
• Drain the water and leave the potatoes in the pot. Cover with the lid and allow to steam for a few minutes.
• Mash the potatoes lightly with a potato masher (avoid over-mixing the potatoes). Add butter, sour cream, milk, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper and stir just until smooth. Set aside.
• Make the meat filling: In a large, oven-safe* 12 inch skillet with sides, add the ground beef and ground sausage (or ground lamb, to make shepherd's pie). Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook over medium heat until browned, breaking the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain some of the grease (reserving some in the pan) and remove meat to a plate.
• Add the onion, celery and carrots to the pan and saute for about 5-8 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and flour and toss to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
• Add the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, herbs and bay leaves and stir to combine.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Taste and add extra seasonings, if needed. Remove bay leaves and stir in frozen peas, corn and cooked meat.
• Assemble the pie: Spoon the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture to completely cover the top. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden and bubbling. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving, to allow the gravy sauce in the meat mixture to cool and thicken.

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a large 9-inch by 13-inch (or equivalent)
• Peel the potatoes and cut them in quarters. Place them in the salted cooking water, cover the pot, and cook on high heat (turn to medium-high when the pot begins reaches a hard boil).
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
• Brown the ground beef, adding the onion, garlic, chopped carrots, thyme, paprika, parsley, and salt and pepper just before the beef is cooked through.
• Cook over medium heat just until the vegetables begin to soften and the onions become translucent.
• Add the wine and cook until reduced.
• Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir well to toast the flour.
• Pour in the stock and stir well, adding the green beans (or peas), cooking until the sauce thickens. Remove the skillet from the heat and pour the meat mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
• Drain the cooked potatoes and mash them in the pot along with the butter, milk, and salt and pepper until the mashed potatoes are smooth.
• Dollop the mashed potatoes over the top of the meat mixture, smoothing them out completely and creating some grooves with a fork on top of the mashed potatoes (this helps with browning).
• Place the baking dish on a baking sheet (it might bubble over the top of the dish in the oven), and bake the Cottage Pie for about 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or until the potatoes begin to turn golden brown on top and the filling starts to bubble up around the sides of the baking dish.
• Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.

COTTAGE PIE WITH HIDDEN VEGGIES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over a medium heat in a large pan.
• Add the minced beef and brown.
• Add the onions and continue to cook until translucent (approx 4 mins).
• Add the caremalised balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce, garlic, celery salt, all purpose seasoning, thyme and parsley and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
• Add the red wine and continute to cook until the liquid is absorbed.
• Add the grated zucchini and carrot and cook for a further 2 or 3 minutes.
• Crumble in the stock cubes, add the boiling water then stir it in together.
• Add the tomato puree, bay leaf and salt and pepper to taste.
• Continue to simmer on a low heat, you may need to add a little more water.
• Meanwhile, place the pumkin, potatoes and sweet potato into a separate pan and cover with cold water.
• Bring to the boil and simmer until tender.
• Drain the potato/sweet potato/pumpkin and mash - as the pumpkin tends to retain water the best way to mash it is using a ricer so you can squeeze the water out at the start of each press.
• Add the butter to the potato mix and season to taste.
• Remove the bay leaves from the minced beef mix and spoon the mixture into a shallow 2 quart dish.
• Add the potato mix over the top of the beef mixture, spread evenly then rough up the top using the back of a fork.
• Place under a hot grill for 4 minutes.

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan and fry 1¼ kg beef mince until browned - you may need to do this in batches. Set aside as it browns.
• Put the other 2 tbsp olive oil into the pan, add 2 finely chopped onions, 3 chopped carrots and 3 chopped celery sticks and cook on a gentle heat until soft, about 20 mins.
• Add 2 finely chopped garlic cloves, 3 tbsp plain flour and 1 tbsp tomato purée, increase the heat and cook for a few mins, then return the beef to the pan.
• Pour over a large glass of red wine, if using, and boil to reduce it slightly before adding the 850ml beef stock, 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, a few thyme sprigs and 2 bay leaves.
• Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 45 mins. By this time the gravy should be thick and coating the meat. Check after about 30 mins - if a lot of liquid remains, increase the heat slightly to reduce the gravy a little. Season well, then discard the bay leaves and thyme stalks.
• Meanwhile, make the mash. In a large saucepan, cover the 1.8kg potatoes which you've peeled and chopped, in salted cold water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender.
• Drain well, then allow to steam-dry for a few mins. Mash well with the 225ml milk, 25g butter, and three-quarters of the 200g strong cheddar cheese, then season with freshly grated nutmeg and some salt and pepper.
• Spoon the meat into 2 ovenproof dishes. Pipe or spoon on the mash to cover. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
• If eating straight away, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and cook for 25-30 mins, or until the topping is golden.
• If you want to use a slow cooker, brown your mince in batches then tip into your slow cooker and stir in the vegetables, flour, purée, wine, stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs with some seasoning. Cover and cook on High for 4-5 hours. Make the mash following the previous steps, and then oven cook in the same way to finish.

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Have your mashed potatoes prepared, and set aside.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat; add ground beef, breaking up well with spoon and stirring frequently, and cook until meat has lost its color and is beginning to brown.
• Remove skillet from heat, and pour off any fat or juices that have collected. Season beef with ketchup, paprika, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a 13x9 baking dish, and spread meat in an even layer.
• Wipe out skillet and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Add peas, corn, and cream to skillet, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until cream is reduced and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour the mixture over the meat in baking dish.
• Spread the potatoes over the vegetables and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese. Bake until heated through and potatoes are nicely browned, about 45 minutes. Serve immediately with ketchup.

ITALIAN COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• First make the Beef with red wine & carrots (see 'Goes well with'). You will need half the finished stew for this recipe.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Cook the potatoes in boiling, salted water for 10 mins until almost done. Drain well, then mix with the butter and half the Parmesan.
• In a large saucepan, fry the pancetta or bacon until golden. Stir in the fresh oregano leaves or dried oregano, then add the beef stew and heat through. Tip into an ovenproof dish and top with the cheesy potatoes, overlapping. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and bake for 20 mins until golden and crisp on top. Serve with a green salad.

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch deep-dish pie plate.
• 2. Score potato skins around their equators. Place potatoes into a pot; cover with salted water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover; simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Just before the potatoes are done, fill a large bowl with cold water and add ice cubes. Drain potatoes. Slip into the ice water for a bit and then remove from water. Slip skins off potatoes. Mash with 4 tablespoons of the butter and the garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper; set aside.
• 3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, herbes de Provence and Worchestershire sauce. Cook and stir until beef is lightly brown and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Mix the Bisto powder with about 3/4 c cold water in a jar and whisk until smooth. Add to meat and simmer until gravy thickens, adding more cold water as necessary until it's the right consistency. Spread the beef evenly in the prepared pie plate. Cover evenly with the onions; spread the mashed potatoes over the onions. Dot the casserole with the remaining butter.
• 4. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
• Notes:.
• *Bisto is found in the international aisle of many supermarkets. It's in the British foods area and is wonderful for any gravy, even turkey!