I have never made cottage pie and I need to.

[IslaValargeone]

How do you make a cottage pie taste of anything other than mince and gravy? Isn't it a bit bland?
Dh has asked me to make it for dinner tomorrow, but I'm worried that it's going to be a bit tasteless.
I should add at this stage, I do cook, but my food involving mince is usually chilli/bolognaise so quite spicy or oomphy.

I'd go with a recipe if you've not done it before, this one looks nice, it's pretty similar to how I'd do it... I love Cottage Pie! www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/775643/cottage-pie

I add 1/2 tin of tomatoes, Worcester sauce, tomato purée, beef stock ( flour Over mince to thicken)

Fry off mince, onion, celery, carrots, garlic. Then add the above basically.

Add mashed cauliflower and potato ontop. Brush top with egg

There should always be a (little) bit of cinnamon sprinkled over the mince once it's been browned off. You can splash some worcester sauce in too.

I have made this shepherds pie with beef instead before and it was good - the cheese and leeks on the top give extra flavour - www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/shepherds-pie-with-cheese-crusted-leeks.html

Thanks so much, it's looking quite appetising now.

Peel the potatoes and put them on to boil.

Fry an onion, some celery and a large, diced carrot together. When the onion is soft, add the mince and brown it. Add some red wine, if you have some (I often have leftover bits which I freeze). Also add some beef boullion, some worcestershire sauce and a squirt of tomato ketchup. Add some peas, and salt and pepper, if needed. Cover, and let it simmer for a while, while you drain and mash the potatoes.

I season my mash well with salt and pepper, but DH also uses mustard.

Put the mince mixture in the pie dish, then spread the potato on top. The easiest way to do this is to put spoonfuls round the edge, and spread them inwards towards the middle. Fork over the potatoes, to give lots of bits to go crispy as it bakes.

Cook for about 30 mins at about 190C.

I put a good dollop of horseradish sauce in the mash. And agree with adding worcester sauce. We also eat it with hp sauce. Yummy though definitely a meal that announces summer is over!

I make the Delia one too. DS's love it.

Bloody Hell, who knew there were so many ways.
I'll be eating it every day of the week at this rate, trying out each recipe :o

Branston Pickle. I shit you not. Gordon Ramsay recommendation. 2 tablespoons stirred into cooked mince mix before topping with mash.

It doesn't taste at all vinegary just mmmm umami.

DP always makes shepherds pie with mint sauce in the lamb mince - delicious!

I cheat and use packet mix from Schwartz :)

Oh and quorn mince as I like the texture of it in a shepherds pie or cottage pie better than normal mince. And tinned carrots. And red lentils. So nice!

I do what sanityclause does except I don't add the food of the devil peas, I chuck in a tin of beans instead.

I always use The Hairy Bikers cottage pie from Mums Know Best - nom nom!

I used to make delia's but have changed to Jamie's recipe for the last few years.

Although he has been the subject of dislike on MN recently, his really is the best cottage pie recipe.

Couple of OXO cubes in with the water does the trick for us..

the best recipe I found for cottage pie was Gordon Ramsey. Its on the internet on BBC food I think.