Cottage pie

Cottage pie

If you're in the mood for some delicious comfort food, today, I decided to make a cottage pie. Cottage pie is similar to a Shepherd's pie, but instead of using lamb, I use beef. The filling is layered with a biscuit crust, and topped with a cheesy, mashed potato topping. I use ground beef, beef bouillon, tomato paste, onions, garlic, and shredded carrots with a mixture of spices for the filling. Served alone, cottage pie is a complete meal. It's economically friendly. Plus, it's very filling and super delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of potatoes, mashed

• ½ cup of butter, plus two tablespoons to add to the mashed potatoes

• 1 onion, finely diced

• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

• 2 pounds of ground beef

• 2 carrots, grated

• 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon of seasoning salt

• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce

• 2 tablespoons of beef bouillon

• 1 can of tomato paste

• 1 cup of water

• Simple biscuit dough (see below)

• 1-½ cups of your preferred shredded cheese (I use grated parmesan cheese)

Instructions: 

Wash and peel your potatoes. The amount you'll need depends on the type and size of potatoes that you'll be using. Generally, three medium-sized potatoes, or about ten small potatoes, will make two cups of mashed potatoes.

In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, add your prepared potatoes. Cook for about twenty minutes over medium-high heat. Remove your pan from the burner. Drain the water off your cooked potatoes and add two tablespoons of butter. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes until they are creamy. (I also season the mashed potatoes with pepper and seasoning salt.)

Prepare the vegetables by dicing the onion, mincing the garlic, and peeling and shredding the carrots.

In a large skillet, melt a half cup of butter over medium heat. Now, add your diced onion, minced garlic, ground beef, shredded carrots, smoked paprika, freshly ground black pepper, and seasoning salt. Cook and stir often, for about twelve to fifteen minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce, beef bouillon, tomato paste, and water. Cook, stirring often, for five to ten minutes (or until your sauce has thickened).

Now, prepare your biscuit dough.

Simple biscuit dough:

• 3 cups of self-rising flour

• 1 cup warm water

• 2 tablespoons of butter, softened

Instructions for simple biscuit dough:

In a bowl, add the flour, two tablespoons of softened butter with one cup of warm water; mix until the ingredients are combined well and a dough ball forms. Press the dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a well buttered pan. (I used a 15'' wide x 9.5'' deep x 2.25'' high glass dish.)

 

Add the beef mixture and spread it out with a spatula. Then add your mashed potatoes on top. Spread the potatoes evenly over the meat mixture. Sprinkle cheese over the layer of mashed potatoes.

Next, transfer your pan to a 375 degrees F oven and bake for about twenty-four minutes. 

Allow your cottage pie to set for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Note:

If you want to make mini cottage pies, prepare them individually using a muffin pan. Use store-bought biscuits to make the biscuit crust.

I don't believe that there are any set rules on what meat and vegetables you can or can't add to a cottage pie. So, if you don't like something that I add to my recipe, just substitute it for your preference.