The best cottage pie from Cam

egg free nut free kids can help can make in advance ok to freeze
Category
Meat recipes
ServesA hungry family of 4
Prep time 10 mins
Cook time40 mins

Mumsnetter ratings

based on (3) reviews
Ease of finding ingredients 9.333
Ease of cooking9
Success with kids8.667
Success with adults10
Overall Mark 9

Ingredients

500g minced beef (very lean)
3 carrots (chopped)
1 medium onion onion (chopped)
2 or 3 cloves of garlic (chopped)
1 fresh bay leaf
8 largish potatoes
Tomato ketchup (the secret ingredient!)
A sprinkle of flour
Vegetable stock made with vegetable bouillon powder (enough to cover the meat)
1 tbsp of olive oil
Knob of butter
Milk and black pepper for mashing the potatoes;
A knob of grated mature cheddar cheese

Handy Hint

Serve with green vegetables - and better when everything is organic!

Method

1. Sweat the carrots, onion and garlic with the bay leaf in the olive oil in a saucepan over a low heat.
2. In a separate saucepan, simmer the minced beef (in its own fat), again on a low heat.
3. When the meat is thoroughly cooked, add it to the vegetable mixture and stir in a light dusting of flour.
4. Add a very good dollop of tomato ketchup, stir in. Then add enough stock to create a very moist mixture.
5. Allow to simmer in the lidded pan for the length of time it takes to boil the peeled potatoes.
6. When the potatoes are very soft, drain and mash with a good amount of butter and black pepper.
7. Beat in a dash of milk until creamy but firm. Place the meat mixture into a casserole dish, cover with mashed potato, forking the top to make ridges.
8. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top and place in hot oven for about 20 minutes to brown.

Mumsnetter Reviews

From: LizzieGreens on Thu 14-Feb-13 19:16:29 Overall rating: 8.5
Yummy!!! Thanks
From: katrinao on Tue 31-Mar-09 10:09:10 Overall rating: 9.2
My family loves this, I wouldn't have though of adding the ketchup but it works a treat!
From: Cam on Fri 07-Mar-08 09:00:13 Overall rating: 10.0
This a real winter dish. It is worth using the best ingredients you can afford, particularly with regard to the meat as it really can lift a fairly basic idea to a delicious taste. Never forget the tomato ketchup, no-one will know you have used it but it really is the magic ingredient in this dish!



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