Shepherd’s Pie Or Cottage Pie: What’s The Difference?
June 13th 2008 12:30
What kind of meat is available to shepherds? The answer; shepherd’s pie is made with lamb or mutton while cottage pie is made using beef. Leftover roast meat was traditionally used but raw minced meat is also suitable.
In the following recipe and step by step pictures, I demonstrate how to make a cottage pie using raw minced beef. The method for shepherd’s pie is the same.
1 Shortcrust pie shell
(See previous recipe for how to make one from scratch or just buy one from the shops)
Meat filling
450g Minced beef
1 Brown Onion
2 Garlic cloves
1 Grated carrot
1 Large mushroom
1 Bayleaf
100ml Tomato paste
1tblsp Gravy mix
20ml Worcestershire sauce
Potato Topping
2 Large potatoes
20g Butter
30ml Milk
Salt and pepper
100g Grated Cheese
Method
Stage One
Brown the minced meat in a little oil in a deep pot.
When the meat is browned and any lumps are broken up, reserve it in a separate dish.
Gently fry the diced onion on a low heat.
When the onion becomes fragrant and translucent, add the crushed garlic.
Add the bayleaf and the chopped mushroom.
Add the finely grated carrot and allow the mix to fry.
Return the browned meat to the pot.
Combine the gravy mix with a small amount of water in a bowl.
Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and gravy mix to the pot.
Add a cup or two of water or stock.
Allow the meat mixture to simmer for fifteen minutes.
Stage Two
In the meantime peel and boil the potatoes.
When they are soft, drain them.
While they are still warm, mash them with the addition of the milk, butter, salt and pepper.
The mashed potato can be slightly wetter than usual as some moisture will evaporate in the oven.
Stage Three
Fill the cooked pastry shell with the warm meat mixture.
Segment by segment, cover the meat mixture with the mashed potato
Spread the potato as evenly as possible, ensuring it goes right to the edges.
Sprinkle the top of the pie with grated cheese.
Bake it at 180°c for 10 minutes or until the pie begins to brown on top.
Serve with tomato relish, tomato sauce or ketchup. Cheers!
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
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dont ask me what shep is lol
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by GlenB
Raw Fish
Herrings Dictionary of Classical and Modern Cookery notes 'Pie: food baked in deep dishes, covered with a crust, or surrounded entirely by a dough crust or with the crust open. English style pies are baked in fireproof China or glass dishes and always covered with a crust...Meat pies ar invariably baked in deep dishes and covered either with short pastry or puff pastry.'
In my professional opinion the rustic version of shepherds pie without pastry fits the definition of a pie, barely, as the potato topping could be said to comprise the crust.
That is why I refer to several variations in the post, bearing in mind that cuisine is in a constant state of evolution.
I would like to take the credit for making it up but pies have been around since before my time.
Instead of saying 'you do not use pastry in shepherds pie', you should speak for yourself in the first person, i.e. 'I do not use pastry', whch is fine by me.
I know you don't speak for all English people as my Dad is not offended, he loves my cottage pie.
Maybe you have only ever known the rustic version (which presents like slop on a plate), but that doesn't mean that there aren't variations you are unaware of.
What are your credentials, anonymous?