Description
Hearty cottage pie brings comfort straight from British kitchens, blending savory ground beef with creamy mashed potato perfection. Rich layers of classic ingredients create a satisfying meal that warms both plate and soul, inviting you to savor traditional British countryside cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 4 potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, diced
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1.5 cups (360 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) milk
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Seasoning and Binding Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 pound (113 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup (57 grams) butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature, thoroughly browning ground beef until no pink remains.
- Incorporate diced onions, chopped carrots, selected herbs, and flour into the meat mixture, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Pour beef broth and tomato paste into the skillet, allowing the mixture to gently simmer for approximately 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and develops rich flavors.
- Simultaneously, place peeled potatoes in a large pot of salted water, boiling until completely tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Drain potatoes and return to pot, mashing vigorously with warm milk, melted butter, and seasoning until smooth and creamy.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F), preparing a suitable baking dish.
- Transfer the savory meat mixture evenly into the baking dish, creating a uniform base layer.
- Carefully spread the creamy mashed potatoes over the meat, creating an even blanket and sprinkle grated cheese on top for added richness.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and bubbling edges.
- Remove from oven and allow the cottage pie to rest for 5-7 minutes before serving, enabling the layers to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Ensure beef is browned properly to develop deep, rich flavors and prevent a watery filling.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat while maintaining a hearty texture.
- Enhance nutrition by adding diced celery or peas to the meat mixture for extra vegetables.
- Make this dish gluten-free by substituting regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend when thickening the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 472 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg