Mumsnet Talk

I decided to make cottage pie for dinner this evening. However now i have bought all the ingredients i have just remembered dh hates mash potatoes!
If i prepare the meat in the same way as normal can i slice the potatoes and lie them on the top instead of mashing them? If so do i boil the potatoes first or put them on raw? Also how long would you put it in oven for, usually with mash i would put it in for 45mins. Thanks so much

Boil them for a bit (like you do for a roast).

45 mins sounds fine.

I'd parboil the potatoes and then slice them before laying them over the top. I'd still cook it for 45 minutes ish.

I make deconstructed cottage pie more often now, serving the mince with yorkshire puddings and maybe some mash if I can be bothered.

Top with cheese and breadcrumbs. Yum...

I sometimes do this with part-baked in the microwave potatoes (like parboil, but less washing up). I give them 2/3rds the usual time, slice, arrange (they can crumble a bit but I'm not bothered) and brushed w melted butter. Nom.

I love 'deconstructed cottage pie', or as it was known in the 70's, savoury mince

Thanks will make that instead!!

I use mashed butternut squash instead tis delicious!

Thingummy - That's what my mum called it too but my kids don't like savoury mince

Pnut, I didn't like cottage pie, but I did like savoury mince with mash

My mum must've be in giggles every meal time with us lot. My dBro din't like onions, so mum only ever used shallots in food which he ate with no fuss

Sliced potatoes on top is Hot-Pot

Thingummy - my dd is the same - I have to call it mince and mash (Don't say the P word - she doesn't like pies )

Southern person here, so forgive my ignorance, but I always thought hot pot was made with lamb chops (or something my cookery teacher called "scrag end" and was possibly neck of lamb?)

We have macaroni cheese on top sometimes instead of mash - or if I'm really lazy, oven chips.....

Yoo can use slices of garlic bread on the top as well!

Or if you're low carb, you can use cooked cauliflower with cheese on top. Very nice

swede and carrot mash here my kids love it

DMum always did sliced spuds tipped with cheese in shepherds pie in summer. I like it best like this, everyone else likes mash.

I'm old and rural you see, we had mashing spuds in winter and firm new boiling spuds in summer. No Tesco with the same stuff all year round.

I love mashed potatoes. I may have to have some now you've reminded me!

I top mine with crispy grated potatoes - parboil potatoes, grate them coarsely, top with melted butter, bake for 20 mins, then add grated cheddar/parmesan and bake for another 10 mins.
DH and DD like crispy fried onions mixed in with the potato, but I can't always be bothered (it is v tasty though!)

I either do the sliced potato thing or I mash swede, or swede and carrot. I hate mash too.