Cottage Pie

[SuffolkBlue]

When I worked in diagnostic radiology the hospital canteen used to do a very popular and tasty cottage pie. Just minced beef, onions, peas and mash topping.

However, the presentation left a lot to be desired so given the dark humour associated with NHS workers we renamed it colostomy pie.

One of my colleagues disliked peas (or any sort of vegetable) so used to pick out all the peas when he ate his!! He didn't have a great diet considering he was diabetic and then ended up with quite severe diverticular disease which we put down to lack of dietary fibre

 

[Dadam]

Minced beef from farm shop, onions, tin of tomatoes, seasoning, potatoes mashed with butter and milk, cheese on top. Made it last night as it happens.

And sorrynotsorry to the purists but it was always shepherd's pie in our house when I was growing up whether the meat was beef or lamb, so shepherd's pie it will remain. So there.

 

[Nibor]

What goes in yours ?
Its a fairly basic (but delicious) recipe,we both indulged tonight
My wife complains because i like mushrooms in it, i love it, gives a wonderful extra flavour...that and topped with cheese (which we both like tbf)

Is that that unusual ?, given half a chance, id have a dash of worcestershire sauce as well.

You want to try a bit of marmite in the gravy too

 

[MontyVeda]

Under the mash it's mince, onion, carrot, stock cube and seasoning. I like a minor sprinkling of grated cheese on the top, but it isn't essential.

Peas belong on the side, not in the pie.

 

[MontyVeda]

Minced beef from farm shop, onions, tin of tomatoes, seasoning, potatoes mashed with butter and milk, cheese on top. Made it last night as it happens.

And sorrynotsorry to the purists but it was always shepherd's pie in our house when I was growing up whether the meat was beef or lamb, so shepherd's pie it will remain. So there.

another thing to add to the list; everything that's wrong with Yorkshire

 

[T4tomo]

another thing to add to the list; everything that's wrong with Yorkshire

If made with mince pork would it be a Swineherds pie?

PS you put any old shite in yer hotpot!

 

[MontyVeda]

If made with mince pork would it be a Swineherds pie?

PS you put any old shite in yer hotpot!

you call it hotpot, I call it disappointment under pastry.

 

[T4tomo]

you call it hotpot, I call it disappointment under pastry.

under sliced potatoes surely?

 

[Fab Foodie]

What goes in yours ?
Its a fairly basic (but delicious) recipe,we both indulged tonight
My wife complains because i like mushrooms in it, i love it, gives a wonderful extra flavour...that and topped with cheese (which we both like tbf)

Is that that unusual ?, given half a chance, id have a dash of worcestershire sauce as well.

What is the legal minimum of Cottage in a Cottage Pie?

 

[Electric_Andy]

5% fat minced steak. Onion, celery and carrot base, then add browned mince. I use the knorr stock pots (jelly) which are extremely good. I also add some bisto powder to thicken and season. As an extra I'll add Lea and Perrins or branston pickle. The mash needs to have loads of butter and pepper, then thoroughly mixed with a dash of milk to cream it up a bit.

I don't object to mushrooms, beans, sweetcorn being added, or cheese on top of the mash. But it's not something I'd add because I like the simplicity of the basic ingredients. Serve with ketchup!

 

[MontyVeda]

under sliced potatoes surely?

My local butcher does them with a pastry lid. They're very bland but i take my hat off to them... it can't be easy removing all the flavour from the ingredients.

 

[Alex321]

you call it hotpot, I call it disappointment under pastry.

Under pastry?

A hotpot is topped with sliced potatoes, not with pastry.

 

[raleighnut]

5% fat minced steak. Onion, celery and carrot base, then add browned mince. I use the knorr stock pots (jelly) which are extremely good. I also add some bisto powder to thicken and season. As an extra I'll add Lea and Perrins or branston pickle. The mash needs to have loads of butter and pepper, then thoroughly mixed with a dash of milk to cream it up a bit.

I don't object to mushrooms, beans, sweetcorn being added, or cheese on top of the mash. But it's not something I'd add because I like the simplicity of the basic ingredients. Serve with ketchup!

I prefer a higher fat content mince, more flavour

 

[alicat]

And sorrynotsorry to the purists but it was always shepherd's pie in our house when I was growing up whether the meat was beef or lamb, so shepherd's pie it will remain. So there.

So did we. Pretty sure it was always beef mince.

another thing to add to the list; everything that's wrong with Yorkshire

Oi! There's nowt wrong wi' Yorkshire apart from being east of Lancashire!

 

[gbb]

I prefer a higher fat content mince, more flavour

I've always struggled to convince my wife, instead of buying 5% fat mince, which for me is lacking the fat that gives it its flavour...and instead buy 'normal' mince, cook it then pour off the excess fat, theoretically giving the mince better flavour and consistency, then reducing the left over fat by removing it.