Easy Peasy Cottage Pie

5 from 1 vote

There are few dishes as comforting as a good old-fashioned cottage pie. This easy peasy version is quick and simple to make, but packed full of flavour… and is like culinary equivalent of a great big hug!

Course Main Course

Cuisine British

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Servings people

Calories 460kcal

Author Eb Gargano

Ingredients

1 kg potatoes peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion diced
2 carrots peeled, halved lengthways and chopped into 1cm / ½ inch chunks
500 g beef mince
1 beef stock cube (I use Kallo organic beef stock cubes, but Oxo beef stock cubes also work well!)
2 tablespoons plain flour
500 ml boiling water
Salt and pepper to taste
A small knob of butter
A splash of milk

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 220C / 200C fan / gas mark 7 / 425F.
Put the chopped potatoes into a saucepan. Pour over enough boiling water to cover well and bring back to the boil. Turn down and simmer for 15 minutes or until soft.
Meanwhile, put the olive oil, diced onion and chopped carrots into a large frying pan. Fry gently for about 5 minutes until softened but not brown.
Turn up the heat and add the beef mince. Break the mince up with a spatula and continue to fry for a further 5 minutes, or until the beef mince is nicely browned all over.
Meanwhile, make a simple beef gravy by crumbling the stock cube into a jug and adding the plain flour. Mix to a smooth paste using a small amount of cold water and then add 500ml boiling water to the jug, stirring constantly.
Pour the gravy into the pan and stir. Add a few twists of black pepper and simmer on a low heat for about 5 minutes.
When the potatoes are ready, drain and mash them with the butter and milk, plus a few twists of salt and pepper.
Pour the beef mixture into the bottom of an oven dish and top with the buttery mash. Use a fork to spread the mash evenly over the beef mixture.
Cook for 20 minutes in your preheated oven until nicely browned on top. Serve with peas and sweetcorn… or whatever veg you like!

Notes

Suitable for freezing.
Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Nutrition