Andre's Cottage Pie / Shepherd's Pie

 

Cottage Pie / Shepherd's Pie 

                                               By Andre

 

Shepherd’s Pie comes to us from England, and is traditionally made with lamb or mutton. In England (and Australia and New Zealand) they would call the beef dish a “cottage pie” and the lamb dish “shepherd’s pie”.

Regardless of what you call it, a shepherd’s pie is basically a casserole with a layer of cooked meat and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven until the mashed potatoes are well browned.

The first time I had Cottage pie was on an Emirates flight to Mumbai. It was part of the kids meal. I liked it very much and it has been one of my favourites since then. It's easy to make, here is the recipe.

Ingredients for the Mince 

• 500 gms Fresh Mince either Beef or Chicken(I've used Beef)
• 2 Large Onions(chopped fine)
• 1 Large Tomato(chopped fine)
• 4-6 Green Chillies(slit and deseeded)
• 8-10 Garlic cloves(chopped fine)
• 1 tbspn Ginger Garlic Paste
• 2 tspn Garam Masala 

·   1 tbspn coriander powder

·   1 tspn cumin powder

·   1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

• 1 tspn Kashmiri Chilly Powder
• 1 tspn Pepper Powder
• 2 tbsp Vinegar
• 1/2 tspn Sugar
• 1 tbspn Ketchup
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bunch Coriander Leaves with stem chopped fine.
• 2 tbspn Oil
• 1/2 cup Water(if using Chicken Mince)

 

You can add any vegetable of your choice in the mince like mushroom, celery, carrot, peas or corn. I have not used any vegetable in the mince. 

 

For the potato mash

·   3 large potatoes (750-800 grams) boiled

·   Butter and cheese to taste

·   salt & pepper to taste

 

Mash the potatoes with butter, cheese, salt and pepper.

 

Assembly

 

1.     To assemble, grease an oven safe dish with butter. Add the cooked mince and level off the surface. 

2.     Top it up with the mashed potato mixture. Level it.

3.     I have decorated it with piped mashed potato mixture. This is optional.

4.     Beat one egg and give an egg wash.

5.     Bake in preheated oven at 180 degrees till potatoes are golden brown.