Cottage Pie is a classic comfort food and this is a delicious, healthier version packed with vegetables and fibre.
Cottage Pie is one of those dinners that you just know everyone is going to gobble up. It's warming, satisfying, full of delicious beef and topped with fluffy mashed potatoes. It is perfect as the weather is getting cooler because it really warms you up and satisfies you for a long Winter’s night ahead.
This version is incredibly easy because it is a one-pot wonder. We're going to cook the mince in one pot and then top it with the potato mash.
Growing up, Cottage Pie was something we’d make when we needed to get through leftovers, because it uses a lot of things you may already have at home. For this reason it’s a great meal for those days when you're not sure what to cook. You’ll probably find you already have a lot of these ingredients in your pantry or freezer, for example, canned tomatoes, canned butter beans, frozen peas, garlic, onion, potato, and all the sauces. You only really need to buy fresh beef mince (if you don't have some already in your freezer).
What is Cottage Pie?
Cottage Pie is a pie, traditionally made with a base of beef mince, onions, garlic and vegetables and then it is topped with fluffy mashed potato. It is called “Cottage” pie, because it was created around the time potatoes were being introduced into the UK, and the potato topping was considered economical, and something people who “lived in cottages” could afford.
Cottage Pie is very similar to Shepherd’s Pie - the main difference being that Cottage Pie is made with Beef Mince, and Shepherd’s Pie is made with Lamb.
This is a "healthier" version of Cottage Pie
In my version of Cottage Pie we're making a few key changes to make this recipe healthier.
- The potato topping is made using a combination of mashed potatoes and mashed butter beans. Butter beans are fantastic ingredients because they're full of fibre, they're easy to store so you can always have them in the pantry and they're cheap.
- The beef mince base is full of vegetables - garlic, onion, carrot, peas, tomatoes, parsley - and this variety of vegetables provides you with a broad range of nutrients.
- The rich flavours in the sauce are made using flavoursome but low calorie sauces like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and beef stock.
What ingredients are in this Cottage Pie?
- Beef mince base - olive oil, onion, garlic, carrot, dried oregano, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, beef stock cube, canned cherry tomatoes, frozen baby peas and parsley
- Potato topping - potatoes, butter beans, butter, olive oil and milk
You may find you already have a lot of these ingredients in your pantry or freezer. You can also use other vegetables that you have floating around that need to be used up.
How to make Cottage Pie?
This is a really simple recipe you can make in just a few steps.
- Microwave potatoes.
- Saute onion, garlic and beef until browned.
- Add sauces, tomatoes and vegetables.
- Mash potatoes with butter beans.
- Top beef with potato mash and place in the oven.
The secret to a fluffy top
A good Cottage Pie needs a fluffy and solid top. Butter beans are my secret ingredient here - they really help to bulk up the mash and give it heft, while also adding fibre.
I also recommend using a blender or stick blender to mash your potatoes and beans together - you’ll get a smoother mash that has a “whipped” effect.
Finally, spray your potato topping with olive oil - this will help it turn golden in the oven.
What to serve with Cottage Pie?
I like to top my Cottage Pie with good old fashioned tomato sauce (ketchup), or for something a little fancier, tomato relish. The acidic sweetness is such a great counterpoint to the potatoes.
Because this Cottage Pie has so many vegetables, one slice is really a complete meal. If you want, you can serve with boiled greens or a simple salad.
Top tip
Add your green vegetables like parsley and peas just before topping with mash - this will help them stay a nice bright green.
Substitutions
- Alternative proteins - Instead of beef mince you can use chicken or lamb mince. Make sure mince is fully cooked before you move onto step five.
- Vegetarian - Swap mince for lentils, red kidney beans or vegetarian mince.
- Dairy Free - Swap butter for nuttelex (or plant-based butter) and milk for almond milk (or plant-based milk of your choice).
- Gluten Free - Swap soy sauce for tamari, and use a gluten free Worcestershire sauce.
Optional Add-ins
- You can add corn kernels or any leftover chopped vegetables at step 5.
- For an indulgent cheesy version, add grated cheese as a layer between the mince and potato.
- Option to add chilli flakes for a spicy version.
Kid-Friendly Variations
- This recipe is designed for kids.
Equipment
You will need a microwave, an oven grill (broiler), an oven proof casserole dish or deep frying pan, a stovetop, a blender or stick blender.
More Family Favourite Recipes
Recipe
Cottage Pie
Equipment
- Microwave
- Oven grill (broiler)
- Oven proof casserole dish or deep frying pan
- Stovetop
- Blender or stick blender
Ingredients
- 500 g potatoes white
- 1 brown onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 carrot
- ½ bunch parsley
- 15 ml olive oil 30 ml total for the recipe
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 500 g beef mince
- 60 g tomato paste
- 30 ml Worcestershire sauce
- 15 ml soy sauce
- 2 beef stock cube
- 400 g cherry tomatoes canned
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper ½ teaspoon total for the recipe
- ½ cup frozen baby peas
- 400 g butter beans canned
- 15 g butter salted
- 15 ml olive oil 30 ml total for the recipe
- 40 ml milk
- 1 spray olive oil spray
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper ½ teaspoon total for the recipe
- 30 ml tomato relish or sauce
Instructions
- Peel potato, cut into 1 cm slices and place in a microwave proof bowl. Cover with water and microwave for 8 minutes on high. Turn on your oven grill (broiler).500 g potatoes
- Peel and dice onion. Crush garlic. Peel and grate carrot. Finely chop parsley.1 brown onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 carrot, ½ bunch parsley
- Heat oil in an oven proof casserole dish or deep frying pan which can be used under a grill (or broiler). Add onion, garlic and oregano and saute for 1 minute.1 brown onion, 2 cloves garlic, 15 ml olive oil, 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Add mince and use your spoon to break up so it browns all over - this should take about 3-5 minutes. Add grated carrot.500 g beef mince, 1 carrot
- Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, beef stock cube, cherry tomatoes and juice, salt and pepper and mix together. Cook for a minute more, then add frozen peas and parsley. Remove from the heat.60 g tomato paste, 30 ml Worcestershire sauce, 15 ml soy sauce, 2 beef stock cube, 400 g cherry tomatoes, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper, ½ cup frozen baby peas, ½ bunch parsley
- Drain potatoes, add drained butter beans, butter, olive oil and milk and blend in a blender or using a stick blender.400 g butter beans, 15 g butter, 15 ml olive oil, 40 ml milk
- Spoon potato mash over the beef, spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and place under the grill for 10 minutes or until the potato top is golden.1 spray olive oil spray, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper
- Serve a big slice of Cottage Pie with tomato relish or tomato sauce, as you like it.To serve kids, cut their slice up into pieces.30 ml tomato relish or sauce
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