Cheesy Cottage Pie

Originating from the UK and Ireland, cottage pie is a delicious savoury meal, minced beef and various vegetables topped with mashed potato, then baked. The alternative is shepherd's pie, which is the exact same but instead of beef you use lamb or mutton, so choose whichever you'd prefer. We love to grate cheese over ours so that it all melts and adds an extra layer on top. Anyway without further ado, let's get on with this delicious recipe!

Happy Cooking!

The Chai Home 😋

INGREDIENTS

Approx 6 - 8 servings

For the filling

• 1x large onion (finely diced)

• 2x large carrots (finely diced into cubes)

• 3x large cloves of garlic (crushed and finely diced)

• 1 & 1/2 x cups of frozen garden peas

• 3x large pinches of salt

• 3x large pinches of pepper

• 2x tsp of sweet paprika

• 1x heaped tsp of parsley

• 2x bay leaves

• 6x sprigs of thyme (leaves only)

• 1x tbsp of soy sauce

• 1x tbsp of worcestershire sauce

• 2x tbsp of tomato puree or ketchup

• 2x tbsp of olive oil

• 1x heaped tbsp of flour

• 2x cups of water

For the mashed potato

• 2kg of potatoes (peeled and diced)

• 1x tbsp of butter

• 3x tbsp of milk

• pinch of salt and pepper

For the topping

• 2x large handfuls of grated cheddar cheese

• generous sprinkling of ground pepper corns

METHOD

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add your diced potatoes, cook until soft.

Meanwhile add olive oil to a large frying pan or skillet and add your beef mince and cook on a high heat - be sure to stir.

Once the beef has browned then add the onion, garlic, carrots, peas, seasoning and dried herbs. Stir together and cook for 5 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 220C.

Add the soy sauce & worcestershire sauce and stir. Reduce to a medium-low heat.

Add the flour and mix together well.

Add the water and mix.

Turn to low heat and add the bay leaves, thyme leaves and tomato pure / ketchup - stir and simmer until the carrots have softened.

Once the potatoes are cooked drain them well and return them to the saucepan.

Mash well and then add the butter, milk, salt & pepper and mash or stir until smooth.

Transfer the cooked filling to your oven dish and then top with the mashed potato. I like to use a fork to create little peaks of mash potato as it helps make it go a little crispy in the oven.

Top with grated cheese and some ground pepper corns and pop it ony the top shelf of the oven and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden.

Serve and enjoy!