Before you start
Proper comfort food: rich, gravy-soft beef and vegetables under a golden mash. Rough up the top with a fork so the peaks crisp, and let the filling cool a little before topping so the mash sits on top rather than sinking in.
Everything you need
- 1 lb (500 g) minced beef
- 2 lb (900 g) potatoes, for mashing
- 3 tbsp (42 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 cup (135 g) frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1½ cups beef stock
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp (16 g) all-purpose flour
- to taste salt and pepper
Weigh, don't scoop. Measuring flour by cups can overpack it and dry out your bake. Tap any ingredient to open its converter.
Method
-
Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, then mash with the butter and milk until smooth. Season.
For this step
- 2 lb (900 g) potatoes
- 3 tbsp (42 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup milk
- to taste salt and pepper
-
Meanwhile brown the beef in a large pan, then scoop it out. Cook the onion and carrot in the fat until soft.
For this step
- 1 lb (500 g) minced beef
- 1 onion
- 1½ cups beef stock
-
Stir in the flour and tomato paste, cook for a minute, then pour in the stock and Worcestershire sauce.
For this step
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1½ cups beef stock
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp (16 g) all-purpose flour
-
Return the beef, add the peas and simmer for 10 minutes until thick. Season, then tip into a baking dish.
For this step
- 1 lb (500 g) minced beef
- 1 cup (135 g) frozen peas
- 1½ cups beef stock
-
Heat the oven to 200°C / 400°F. Spoon the mash over the filling and rough up the top with a fork.
-
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is golden and the edges bubble.
Baker's tips
- Rough up the mash with a fork. The peaks crisp up in the oven.
- Let the filling cool a little before topping, so the mash sits on top instead of sinking.
Make it your own
- Use minced lamb instead of beef and it becomes a shepherd's pie.
- Mix grated cheddar into the mash, or scatter it on top for the last 10 minutes.
Storing & freezing
Keeps 3 days in the fridge, or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat until piping hot in the middle.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie?
Cottage pie uses beef, shepherd's pie uses lamb. The method is the same.
Which potatoes mash best?
Floury ones like Maris Piper or russet give the fluffiest mash. Waxy potatoes can turn gluey.
Baking in a different unit? Use the cups ↔ grams converter or the recipe scaler to halve or double this recipe.
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A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.