To think cottage pie is a complete meal in itself?

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Why do I need to add extra veggies in the side to what is (possibly?) already a complete meal?

Protein, veggies and carbs all there.

Doesn’t cheese make it a shepherds pie?

Shepherds don't do much herding of cheese

Add chips

I like Red Dragon Pie which is all vegetables and still have more on the side.

Veg on the side will be a portion vs a few peas sprinkled inside. Better (/healthier) to have a smaller piece of shepherds pie and veg on the side.

I think that it's to add variety in taste and texture. I know you've got the potato and the mince, but they're both kinda mushy and very savoury. So your mouth needs a contrast with a fresher taste and texture like green beans or broccoli.

Agree with @FeralWitch and @toastofthetown -all by itself the pie is not as nutritious and a bit samey. Crunchy broccoli on the side is key.

My cottage pie is minced beef, onion, carrots and peas (lots of carrots and peas so no need to add a side a of veg)
then the potatoes is parboiled, sliced and laid on top like roof tiles (hence cottage) and topped with grated cheese.
yum!

Potatoes are

I normally serve peas a well. I do not put peas in the pie. I put carrots, celery and onion for a pie that normally serves six people. I don't think the amount of veg in it is enough so put peas (frozen so super quick to cook) on the side.

Is it a meal on its own? Yes. Should it be served in its own, all sad and unaccompanied on the plate? Absolutely not! Get some veg alongside it. Splodge and dollop meals need some colour next to them and they don't come splodgier or dollopier than cottage pie.

Yes yes yes!

Cottage pie here includes carrots and peas (not a half carrot either) then I like to do carrot and swede mash on the top. Sometimes I add brocoli or green beans on the side.

Splodge and dollop. Brilliant!

Mine has carrots and onions with the mince, but I always serve processed peas with it and usually roast parsnips or roast butternut squash.

I don’t put the veggies in the shepherd’s or cottage pie, we have them on the side. Usually some sort of green veg and maybe carrots too.

Everyone has different veg preferences, and also I like to taste the veg, so prefer it not in the pie.

Definitely wouldn’t make another carb with it though!

I have some little bits of carrot in from the base of the sauce, but I would always have 2 veg, broccoli and peas or maybe carrots, with it. I like crunchier veg and I like the separate flavours, but also I think you would be hard pressed to get two portions of veg per person in there.

A friend of mine puts sweetcorn in. She swears it makes it very succulent, but admits it looks dodgy..

Or Brussels sprouts!

Try it with grated cheese and crushed up crisps sprinkled on the top!

Dollop and splodge, surely 😁

Garlic bread.

I don't think it is a complete meal. I put a weebit if carrot in the pie, but that wouldn't be anything like enough veg, so I always do kale, spinach or something leafy and green and usually something a bit textured, like asparagus, mangetout or peas.

We have ours with garlic bread 🙈

I put peas and carrots in as well and agree with you, it's a perfectly reasonable meal on it's own that way.

😆true

I do green on the side AND crusty bread 🙂