I can hear it now, you’re thinking “Isn’t this shepherd’s pie?” No. It’s not. Shepherd’s pie has lamb, not beef.
Beef = Cottage
Lamb = Shepherd’s
Got it?
Get it?
Good.
I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
What? Stop looking at me like that!
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
½ onion, chopped
4 medium potatoes, mashed
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon mixed herbs (I used Montreal Steak seasoning)
1 tablespoon tomato puree
1 cup beef stock (or 1 beef stock cube mixed into 1 cup of water)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
Yes that is bread flour – I was out of all purpose flour – and it worked fine.
DIRECTIONS
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and fry the beef rapidly, breaking up as many lumps as possible. When brown, drain in colander.
Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, and fry the onion until tender.
Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato puree, and mixed herbs.
Return the beef to the pan, stir well, and bring to a boil.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
While the meat mixture is simmering, prepare the mashed potatoes the way you normally do at your house.
When the meat is ready, put it into a baking dish and spread the mashed potatoes across the top.
Run a fork lightly over the top of the potato to rough it up a bit and dot with slivers of butter here and there.
If the meat and potatoes are still hot, you only need to put it under the broiler on high for 10-15 minutes.
If you have prepared the dish ahead of time and it is cold, place it in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, then briefly under broiler to brown the top.
Try to make sure it is under the broiler evenly, not like me!
Serve with the sides of your choice, but the standard cottage pie side in our house is peas!
This is a regular meal in our house – my husband grew up with it and my children are guaranteed to clear their plates.
That’s what it’s all about, right?
♥
