Irish Culinary Heritage

Cottage Pie

This cottage pie recipe is from my English Gram who served this often. It's so comforting and delicious! I have modified her recipe for my family and this is it.

Total time 60 min
Prep 20 min
Cook 40 min
Servings 4
Rating: 5.0/5
3 ratings

Ingredients

Method

  1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook until soft.

  2. Add minced beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.

  3. Stir in chopped carrot and garlic, cook for 2–3 minutes.

  4. Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Simmer for 10–15 minutes until slightly thickened.

  5. Add peas and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.

  6. Boil peeled potatoes until tender. Drain and mash with butter and milk until smooth.

  7. Transfer the beef mixture into a baking dish.

  8. Spread mashed potatoes evenly on top using a spoon or spatula.

  9. Bake at 200°C for 20–25 minutes until the top is golden.

  10. Serve hot.

Irish context

Shepherd’s pie and cottage pie are traditional comfort dishes widely served across Ireland, especially during colder months.

Originally developed as a way to use leftover roasted meat, the dish has become a staple in Irish homes and pubs.

In Ireland, lamb is often used for shepherd’s pie, while beef is more commonly used for cottage pie.

Tips

For extra flavour, add a splash of red wine to the beef while cooking.

Rough up the mashed potato surface with a fork to create crispy peaks.

Add grated cheese on top for a richer finish.

Let the pie rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to help it set.

Comments

1 comment

GreenBear

tasty

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