shepherds pie / cottage pie - how do I cook it?

[Lisa78]

Do I just cook the mince, then put mashed potato on the top and bung it in the oven for 10 minutes, or is it more complicated than that?
Thanks
Lisa
(not Nigella)

No that pretty much it. Add abit of gravy and some veg to the mince too.

Mmmmmmmmm yummy quite fancy that tonight now but out of spuds.

I always brown off the mince with some onions ina saucepan and boil some carrots and peas in a seperate pan (s) and some potatoes!

Then when the mince is browned off and veg is cooked. I make some gravy and mix it in with the mince and drain the peas and add them. Put in ovenproof dish thing

then drain carrots and mash and put on top

mash potatoes and put on top

stick in oven (about 190c) for about 25 mins

sorry no measurements or anything I just cook it from memory!

emma i have just been thinking about cooking one too! mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I would fry an oinion first, then add mince and other veg (carrots - finely chopped etc) and some stock and/or gravy granules and water and simmer for a bit, then put in dish and put mash on top. If you cook it early in the day for later on you'll need to cook it for longer obviously so it all heats through - about 20-30 mins on about 180 deg.
HTH

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I, brown mince, drain excess fat, add chopped onions, add packet mix from ASDA (I know I'm a cheat - but it is very tasty), boil potatoes, mash and put on top of mince etc in a oven proof dish, grate some cheese on top and put in oven for 10 mins.

Oh, thats making me feel hungry now !

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yup

In addition to an onion and some carrot (blitzed together in the food porcessor or finely chopped), I add in some herbs (eg oregano), sweat them in some oil before adding the mince. Once it's browned, I add in some stock, some tomato puree and (the secret ingredient), some worcerstershire sauce, and then cook it until it's about the right texture (ie not too liquid).

Then mashed potato on top.

This is a cross between a Gary Rhodes and a Nigella recipe.

.. oops, forgot to mention the garlic!

I would if I had a hob to cook it on. My stupid husband has gone and disconnected my hob, put it in its new place in my recently completed kitchen and hasn't bothered to connect it up again !!! looks like fish and chips tonight

thanks guys! I'm not very good at cooking, incase you hadn't guessed! If I don't post for a few days, I'll be in intensive care with food poisoning!!!
We should do a poll of how many mners are having shepherds pie for dinner tonight!
Is there a difference between s pie and c pie?

Shepherds Pie / Cottage Pie
1 pound of minced beef or lamb/
Beef cube
1 pound of potatoes
Milk, butter, pepper/salt

Cook minced meat with a little water and the beef cube. Boil the potatoes and cream them with butter and milk. Place cooked meat into casserole dish. Cover with mashed/creamed potatoes. Place in the oven or under a broiler to brown .

For Shepherds Pie: rough up the potatoes with a fork before placing in oven or broiler. Cooked carrots can also be included with the meat under the potatoes.

Shepherd's Pie = lamb
Cottage pie = beef

I usually make my shepherd's pie with left over roast lamb - it's a good excuse to get a decent sized roast, to have plenty of left overs!

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Lisa this is my ds twins favourite cottage pie recipe.

250g mince browned with a small chopped onion, add any veg you like i.e. green beans, diced swede. Add stock made from a beef oxo cube (or store name ones are just as good) about 300ml. Let it simmer on the stove top for about 20 or so minutes, stirring and checking every now and again.

Put into a shallow oven dish, top with mashed potato. At this point I allow it to cool and put in the fridge to cook later for dinner, gas 5 for 25 minutes. You can add a tin of chopped tomatoes instead of stock (use only a cube and a little water to melt it.) and add grated cheese to the mash.

Hi, Im a terrible cook and a really fussy eater! I dont eat any vegetables at all but I love shepherds pie! I try and make my own without the onions etc but the mince never seems to do what I want it to do! It stays 'wormy' and doesnt go mushy the way its meant to! Any ideas or tips as to what I might be doing wrong???