How to pimp up a cheese and potato pie?

[Bettyboo12]

Normally just use, butter, milk salt and pepper and serve with beans and tomatoes. I was thinking of adding the beans to the bottom of the dish and then layering with mash potatoes and cheese. What else can I add to add more flavour 😋

OH @MangoBiscuit that recipe looks really yummy but a whopping 567 calories for one serving, i'd have to plan for that and maybe i will ;).

@fallfallfall it says it serves 4. Maybe if I hadn't eaten all day! I had 1/8th, broccoli and carrots, and it was plenty.

Great to know @MangoBiscuit that 1/8th portion with veg is a good amount. thank you for the info!!

Mmmmm 😋

I always make it with tonnes of Lancashire cheese, it’s so delish cooked, tge crumbly not the creamy.

loving whoever said jalapeños, what an awesome idea!

I was making fish cakes with the kids and had leftover mash so we made some with just cheese. Now they ask for cheesy fish cakes with no fish. Cheese and mash in breadcrumbs is not a suitable dinner imo.

Loads of chopped parsley, maybe some tarragon.

Also agree mustard and leeks would be lovely.

My MIL makes one with sausages cooked then sliced up in the bottom of the oven dish, mix in a tin or 2 of baked beans then spread cheesy mashed potato on top

If you want it to have more flavour kick I'd add a teaspoon of garlic granules, a teaspoon of dijon mustard (not English) a pinchg of smoky paprika and a teaspoon of dried thyme

More cheese, then add a different cheese.

If you are using cheddar in the main part then sprinkle red Leicester on top. Then double the quantities. Adding mustard or leeks is a good shout.

Oo this sounds nice 😋

Or corn beef. It's really nice.

This was a v commonplace dinner in my Midlands town in 70s & 80s. My mum added canned plum tomatoes & served it with peas on the side: I guess children like it as it’s v bland

Would consider it a massive treat now though (wanton carb consumption!!). I’d add a layer of leeks on the bottom or stirred through & butter through the mash

Had never heard of butter pie but that looks delicious - double carb goodness 😋

I have five words for you.

Jalapenos and Lancashire Cheesy Chips.

Like cheesy mash but even better.

Yes, I've done that, and I think it was from Delia Smith. I'm pretty certain she said add a couple ounces of butter and a beaten egg and grated cheese to a pot of drained potatoes and use a hand whisk to mix it and then put it in the oven. It's absolutely delicious.

My mum used to put tomato soup on it like gravy. My vegetarian uni friends used to go mad for my mums cheese and potato pie.

I grew up in Birmingham and it was always an option in my secondary school canteen

A smashed up tin of anchovies, including all the oil, stirred in.

We also do this with day 2 of macaroni cheese.

My tip (with budget in mind) is to layer the cheese rather than stir it in, so you get stronger bites of cheese at intervals rather than a more diluted cheesy mash.
Use mash, caramelised onions and grated cheese in layers, ending with mash. Dot with butter. Bake until the top is golden and crispy.

Chives

Leeks/ Onions

Garlic

Use a couple of varieties of cheese - Lancashire/ Cheshire/ Cheddar - even a bit of gorgonzola if you feel adventurous

And don't put baked beans in it! 😟

Agreed with this.

I used to love this as a kid but sadly now I am lactose intolerant. Maybe all the cheese is why?

I don't add egg to cheese and potato pie but I do if I'm doing twice baked 'soufflé' potatoes: scoop out the middles, mash with butter, cheese, chives and anything else you fancy like finely chopped cooked bacon or ham, mix with beaten egg and beat until it's as smooth as possible, refill the potato skins and bake until slightly risen and golden.

If you put bacon, and/or sausages and baked beans in the bottom it becomes cowboy pie and you don't need cheese in the mash topping (though a squirt of barbecue sauce in the beans works well).