How to make the best shepherds/cottage pie

[chunkyrun]

Don't shoot I don't know which one has lamb mince in 😆

Shepherds is lamb and cottage is beef. I much prefer cottage

A big handful of grated cheddar in the mash takes it to a whole new level! Was part of the BBC cottage pie recipe and haven't made mash without cheddar ever since.

My best shepherd's pie (think a shepherd herds sheep and a cow lives in a cowshed or cottage) is made with left over roast lamb.

I roast a lamb for Sunday dinner and then take 600g off once cooked to mince in the food processor to freeze for a pie later. It makes such a difference to the taste compared with normal lamb mince.

Ooh yes that sounds good the more cheese the better is my motto.

Just using lamb mince, normally make keema but fancied a change. But if I ever have lamb leftovers I know what I'll be doing with them

I made a cottage pie last Sunday with shin of beef instead of mince. Slow cooked the beef on the hob v low for 3 hours before assembling. It's the recipe on the guardian- how to make the perfect cottage pie . Was truly scrumptious

When roasting lamb, cook a mirepoix at the same time so you can just mix it with the shredded leftover lamb and have the shepherd's pie 90% done.

We like Shepards pie topped with grated cheese and breadcrumbs.
Making it tomorrow actually, with lovely mince from the local farm shop.

The classic Gary Rhodes recipe is a excellent.

I made once this week with leftover slow cooked beef and the gravy I made from beef juices. I did mix it with a small portion of beef mince too. Full fat beef mince if you're using. Worcestershire sauce, beef oxo (no imitations), mixed herbs, peas, carrots diced very small, couple of bay leaves whilst it simmers. Sometimes a teaspoon of garam masala.

You could slowly cook some stewing steak first.

I accidentally made the topping into a cobbler type topping. I cut potatoes into rough cube shapes so they cook quickly, before I mashed them this time I put a huge chunk of butter in and shook the pan, I normally would have mashed (with a ricer) but I wasn't in the mood to deal with the unholy starchy mess it makes. It was a great success and the potatoes were crunchier. I don't think I'll ever properly mash again.

For shepherd's pie look up Michel Roux jr. on youtube - the recipe from Food and Drink.

I recently started making the “no fuss shepherds pie” from bbc good food it’s easy to make and lovely.

I put dollop of tomato puree in and dash worcestershire sauce and def grated cheese on top

For a slight twist, I often do Nigel Slater's shepherds pie with spiced parsnip mash
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/shepherdspiewithspic_83899

DH (cook in this household) finely chops carrot in with the mince. It lightens the texture of the meat sauce but is cooked down so that it isnt recognisable as carrot.

A layer of frozen peas over the cooked meat before the mash and cheese and browning, works fantastically to stop sinkage.

I make with lamb-mince, a tin of chopped tomatoes, lamb stock, some sage and cook it off. When it is all bubbling nicely, pour in a glass of sherry. Let the alcohol boil off then leave to cool before putting in the dish and covering with potato mix (nice with some celeriac in) Reheat for 20 minutes and sprinkled with cheese before heating for a further 10 minutes. I find that the sherry cuts across the fat.

How could you not make the connection that lamb would be in a shepherd's pie?

I use the Tamasin Day Lewis recipe, www.chewingthefat.us.com/2014/12/cottage-pie-with-hand-from-tamasin-day.html

Delia's leek-and-cheese-topped shepherd's pie made with leftover roast lamb is divine:
www.deliaonline.com/recipes/international/european/british/shepherds-pie-with-cheese-crusted-leeks

I like this recipe, I don’t add the Crème fraîche to the mash, just use a little butter and milk.

www.goodto.com/recipes/hairy-biker-s-cottage-pie

A dollop of mint jelly in Shepard’s pie! Grated cheese and crushed up ready salted crisps on either- or any kind of oven cooked potato topped dish!