Recipe Image

Ingredients

For the Main Meal

150 ml Water

1 Litre Water

1 kg Minced Beef

1 Pinch Sea Salt

4 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

4 tbsp HP Sauce

1 tbsp Plain Flour

2 Carrots (Diced)

2 Beef Stock Cubes

8 Sprigs Thyme

1 Pinch Pepper

For the Topping

¼ Nutmeg (Optional)

200 ml Full Fat Milk

1 Pinch Sea Salt

2 tsp English Mustard

500 g Potatoes (Peeled & Roughly Chopped)

1 Pinch Pepper

100 g Unsalted Butter
* Always check the ingredient labels for allgergen information

Desiree potatoes (red skins) are a good choice for the mashed potato, also adding cheddar cheese on top with a few splashes of worcestershire sauce goes very well!

Cottage Pie

by Dan

Serves 6

Total 1 hour

Oven Temp 180 °C - 15 minutes

Difficulty Not too Tricky

Chef Marco Pierre White

Method

  1. In a large pan fry the minced beef until golden brown, then add the 150ml of water (the natural fat will render out of the meat) and reduce. Pour the beef into a colander in order to drain off the excess fat and grease, then return to the pan and cover with 1 litre of beef stock.

  2. Blanch the diced carrots in boiling salted water until soft, but not mushy. Refresh in cold water and keep to one side.

  3. Peel and boil the potatoes until they are cooked. Strain and leave to dry for 15 mins. Put through a potato ricer (or use a masher), then add 100g softened butter, 200ml warm milk, salt, pepper, 2 tsp of mustard and grated nutmeg and mix until smooth.

  4. Gently simmer the beef mixture until it becomes quite binding in consistency, you may need to add 1 tbsp of flour. Add the chopped thyme (leaves only) and the blanched carrot. Adjust the seasoning according to taste with the salt, black pepper, HP and worcestershire sauces.

  5. Transfer the mince mixture into pie dishes. Press the mince down to give a smooth surface on to which the potato can be spread evenly on top. Bake the pies in the oven for 15 minutes or until the potato begins to turn golden brown and the pie is piping hot in the centre.