TRADITIONAL COTTAGE PIE

I love cottage pie!! (not a fan of ground lamb though). good call adding the Worcester sauce as well. My friend makes an amazing ones and she adds Brantson Pickle (the pickle u eat with cheese – do you have it in the US?). It tastes amazing and is highly recommended as a twist! Enjoy the time with your husband! 🙂

My husband and kids love this kind of meal. I've been wanting to try it with mashed sweet potatoes. You made it look great. I'm wishing I had some of your leftovers here now for my own lunch.

Ingredients:

• 400ml/14fl oz beef stock
• Worcestershire sauce, to taste
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• For the mince
• 50ml/2fl oz olive oil
• 150ml/5fl oz red wine
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
• 1 large onion or 3–4 banana shallots, finely chopped
• 650g/1lb 7oz minced beef
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp plain flour

For the mash:

• 125ml/4½fl oz milk
• 900g/2lb King Edward potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 115g/4oz butter

To serve:

• How-to-videos
• 150g/5½oz frozen peas
• 50g/1¾oz butter

Method

1. Heat half the oil in a large heavy-based pan. Add the onion and cook until softened. Tip it onto a plate.
2. Return the pan to the heat and add the remaining oil. When it's hot, fry the mince, in batches if needed, for 4–5 minutes, or until browned all over. Stir in the cooked onion and tomato purée and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the flour and cook for a further minute. Pour in the red wine, scraping up any caramelised bits with a wooden spoon, and add the thyme.
3. Add the stock and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the mince is tender and the mixture has thickened. Season to taste, and add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Keep warm over a very low heat. Preheat the grill to high.
4. Meanwhile, for the mash, put the potatoes in a pan of salted water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 12–15 minutes, or until they are tender. Drain and return the potatoes to the pan, then place over the heat for about 1 minute to drive off any excess moisture. Mash well, then add the butter and milk, beating to form a smooth mash. Season to taste.
5. Put the mince mixture in a baking dish and spoon the mash over the top. Grill for 8–10 minutes, or until golden-brown.
6. Meanwhile, boil the peas in water in a small saucepan for 3–4 minutes, then drain and add the butter. Serve the cottage pie with the peas.