to say that cottage pie is NOT a “weekday meal”

[RiddleMeThis2018]

Cottage pie is delicious. I know how to make it, but sometimes I like to look at a recipe online, to make sure I don’t put too much tomato in by mistake (disappointing, not to be recommended). Almost ALL the recipes say “delicious week-night supper” or similar. This is NOT a weeknight supper!! I couldn’t do it yesterday because the DCs and I got back from swimming too late. I’m not even working today and I had to psych myself up to it. The mince takes 50 mins to simmer, and that’s after all the chopping. Then there’s 20 mins in the oven assuming you time the potatoes right. And then the washing up!

I don’t blame cottage pie. I blame the website writers who want to make me think I should just whip this up on a Thursday when I get in from work. AIBU?

I recently bought a potato ricer and that gadget is my best friend now as I don't even need to peel the potatoes.

We don't get frozen mash so that is not an option, but the packet stuff you mix with water is quite vile.

I do roasts in the the week. I find them less faffy than cottage pie or lasagne as its just a bung in the oven type of meal and then i can carry on with whatever else needs doing. Probably the most work is the gravy, but then i do lazy veg in the week where i buy it all ready chopped etc.

But, on the subject of lasagne. White sauce? It has to be cheese sauce surely?? Or is that just us?

Use frozen mash, its excellent.

All these people saying that you HAVE to cook the minced beef long & slow - what do you think beef burgers are made of?

Do any of you simmer those for 50 minutes?

No, because they would be disgusting.

Cottage pie is a fairly solid dish, you aren't making a sauce.

Don't HAVE to - WANT to, as it is nicer.

Beef burgers are made from a better cut of beef than ordinary mince - at least those that are worth buying are. Btw, I know it's not the healthier option, but ordinary mince, not the extra-lean type, has the best flavour.

And cottage and shepherd's pie both involve gravy, aka a sauce - at least in my family. Not made separately, just to cook the mince in and add flavour. Long, slow cooking is like reducing stock. That's where the flavour comes from. Not as wet as a stew, but there should be enough to bubble up round the edges of the potato. I thicken mine with cornflour if it's too thin.

I make beef burgers out of exactly the same mince as I make shepherds pie out of. I don’t think that’s unusual.

Cottage pie is the epitome of pointlessness. The mince and the tatties are already cooked. Eat that instead of making it into a 'pie'.

I'd turn my nose up if someone gave me stewed apple and a slab of pastry instead of a slice of apple pie. Deconstructed anything isn't a patch on the original version.

I think it's a weekday dinner. Peel and boil pork toes during nap time and then mash and leave to cool

Brown up meat etc before dinner.jnto oven topped with potatoes and cook for another 30-45 mins
Simples

A lot of people do a fairly dry cottage pie though. I don’t, mine also has a saucy texture but I only add gravy granules if it’s a rush. But yeah, I think the dish “cottage pie” means a lot of different things to different people!

”I think it's a weekday dinner. Peel and boil pork toes during nap time and then mash and leave to cool

Brown up meat etc before dinner.jnto oven topped with potatoes and cook for another 30-45 mins
Simples”

Oh I see. I have to tell work to take a nap during the afternoon so I can cook dinner for that evening, and then it will be “simples”.

Me too @flowery, I've a feeling my boss is not going to be ok with that.

@wafflyversatile But ... But ... what about the golden crispy top? I need to sit down ...

Hate cottage pie. It's bland like most English food tbh

Gone fair, some people are not really very good cooks, that's normally the problem with any bland food, regardless of where it comes from.

We eat this midweek all the time. It’s easy to make although it takes time to cook properly. I have taught both my dc how to make it because it’s a good staple meal.

I am wondering what the people who say cottage pie takes too long to prepare have for their evening meals?

If you like things to simmer for a while and don't have time, you need to invest in an instant pot - it's amazing and stuff that takes 20 mins can taste like it's been there for hours, especially chilli, bolognese etc

I'm with OP. I get home from work and nursery pick up at 6pm and go straight into bath and bed routine. By the time my DS has stopped careering around his cot and actually gone to sleep, its usually 7.15. No way would I start a cottage pie then, which takes at least an hour, longer if you're chopping and peeling from scratch.

Weekday meals are stir fries, pasta, salads in the summer, and yes, the occasional ready meal.

Pressure cookers are also a godsend. I grew up on pressure cooker evening meals!

My Shepherds Pie is bloody gorgeous and it takes a good hour at least to make. I put loads of fresh veg in it, make a lovely gravy and mash all the potatoes myself, grill the top in the oven. It's time consuming but everyone wolfs it down and back for seconds.

Totally with you Artichoke

Have you tried an electric pressure cooker? Meat and spuds 15m, whack under grill. Including Washing up, half an hour !

I used to make cottage pie mid-week until we discovered Charlie Bigham!

About once a month we'll have either his cottage pie or lasagne with a salad and garlic bread. It's the only ready meal we have though.

I think it's a weekday dinner. Peel and boil pork toes during nap time and then mash and leave to cool

I think we live very differently.

First, I am not really a fan of pork toes, I don't get a chance to boil anything during the day, let alone have a nap.