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Mary Berry Cottage Pie

Mary Berry Cottage Pie
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Mary Berry’s Cottage Pie is a classic British dish made with flavorful minced beef cooked in a rich gravy with onions, carrots, and herbs, then topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden brown. Unlike Shepherd’s Pie, which uses lamb, Cottage Pie is made with beef.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Beef Filling:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 carrots (diced)
  • 2 celery stalks (chopped)
  • 500g minced beef
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 250ml beef stock
  • 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh thyme)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper (to taste)

For the Mashed Potato Topping:

  • 900g potatoes (peeled and chopped)
  • 50g butter
  • 100ml milk
  • 50g cheddar cheese (grated, optional)
  • Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Beef Filling

  • Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
  • Add onion, carrots, and celery, and sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
  • Stir in minced beef and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned.
  • Add garlic, tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme, and cook for 1 minute.
  • Pour in the beef stock, add the bay leaf, and season with salt and black pepper.
  • Simmer for 20 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.

Step 2: Make the Mashed Potatoes

  • Boil potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender.
  • Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
  • Stir in cheddar cheese for extra richness (optional).

Step 3: Assemble the Cottage Pie

  • Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or 400°F.
  • Spoon the beef mixture into a baking dish and spread evenly.
  • Top with mashed potatoes, spreading with a fork for a textured finish.

Step 4: Bake Until Golden

  • Bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden brown.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

 

  • Let it rest for 5 minutes, then serve hot with steamed vegetables or salad.

Find it online: https://britishrecipeshub.co.uk/mary-berry-cottage-pie/