Cottage Pie recipes

Cocochai · 2023-01-22T08:29:35+00:00

Does anyone have a recipe that is both tasty and doesn’t take a huge amount of time to make please? I’ve looked at quite a few recipes and it looks like prep alone takes 1-2 hours? I would like to batch cook and freeze in smaller portions. Prefer to cook from scratch.

AllAboutMargot · 22/01/2023 08:34

I make mine with lentils and put some marmite in as flavouring. Really tasty and nutritious.

Chelsea26 · 22/01/2023 08:37

You can buy frozen soffrito which cuts prep time down a lot and if you have a pressure cooker then the filling can be done in half an hour.

subtoprem · 22/01/2023 08:39

I think the problem is, you need to cook the mince for a couple of hours on low for it to be tender, so a quick cottage pie just isn't going to taste good.

Do you have a slow cooker? In which case you could do the meat in that then assemble the pies later?

I don't follow a strict recipe but for a 750g pack of mince I'd fry off a couple of chopped onions, a medium chopped carrot and a couple of sticks of celery until soft, turning golden. Add the mince until browned. Add about a heaped tablespoon of plain flour and cook for a couple of min.
Add a glass of red wine, let that bubble away for a min then a good shake of Worcester sauce and enough beef stock to cover. Then I do mine in a low oven for about 2.5 hours. If it needs a bit more stock when it comes out, add some, if it needs thickening either cook with lid off or add cornflour/water mix. Taste it and add another stock cube if required. Leave to cool a bit in your pie dish before adding cheesy mash on top, if you do it when hot the potato sinks. Grated cheese on top then freeze.

Cheshiremamalife · 22/01/2023 08:42

I use the Hairy Bikers recipe... You'll find it on the BBC Good Food website and it's delicious!! To cut down on prep time, you can often buy frozen 'base mixes' at the supermarket (chopped onion, carrot & celery) which cuts lots of the chopping time and I've been known to cheat midweek and use frozen mashed potatoes

SoosanCarter · 22/01/2023 08:53

Frozen mashed potatoes are your friend.

mozzyworries · 22/01/2023 09:09

subtoprem · 22/01/2023 08:39

I think the problem is, you need to cook the mince for a couple of hours on low for it to be tender, so a quick cottage pie just isn't going to taste good.

Do you have a slow cooker? In which case you could do the meat in that then assemble the pies later?

I don't follow a strict recipe but for a 750g pack of mince I'd fry off a couple of chopped onions, a medium chopped carrot and a couple of sticks of celery until soft, turning golden. Add the mince until browned. Add about a heaped tablespoon of plain flour and cook for a couple of min.
Add a glass of red wine, let that bubble away for a min then a good shake of Worcester sauce and enough beef stock to cover. Then I do mine in a low oven for about 2.5 hours. If it needs a bit more stock when it comes out, add some, if it needs thickening either cook with lid off or add cornflour/water mix. Taste it and add another stock cube if required. Leave to cool a bit in your pie dish before adding cheesy mash on top, if you do it when hot the potato sinks. Grated cheese on top then freeze.

This is almost exactly what I do. Sometimes add marmite as PP said.

It's not a quick meal at all as you have to cook the mince so long and mash always takes ages too, but perfect for batch cooking.

Thisbastardcomputer · 22/01/2023 09:10

I second the Hairy Bikers cottage pie, it's the best I've made, it makes a lot and I gave my son some to take home. He told me it's the best meal he's eaten for a long time.

purpledalmation · 22/01/2023 09:15

Pre prepared chopped onion. Lean minced beef. Brown together. Sliced carrots, chopped celery, tin of chopped tomatoes, frozen peas. Salt, pepper, Worcester sauce. Cook together. If you don't want to do mashed potatoes on top, the ready made mashed potatoes will work too.

caramac04 · 22/01/2023 09:24

Brown the mince, add frozen chopped onions, a tin of tomatoes, chopped carrot (microwave it first so it’s soft) and use a cottage pie mix sachet for incredible flavour. Add more water using the tomato tin - half to one tin of water.
cook through until thoroughly hot and top with mash.
I use my ninja and do the mash in pressure cooker mode first then whack it on top of the meaty base as above and air fry for 30 mins.
Its really quick and tasty.
I use a packet mix as I don’t have loads of different herbs and spices —-slowly going stale in the back of the cupboard—-