Cottage pie

---

Comfort food for a cold winter's evening.

Ingredients

• Squash mash (about 1kg in total)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium carrots, grated
• 560 g (1¼) lb lean beef mince
• 400 g (14oz) tin tomatoes
• 285 ml (10 fl oz) beef stock or from a stock cube
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 leaves only from 1 sprig of thyme
• 2 tablespoons of Tomato purée
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mise en place

• Preheat the oven to 190° C (375° F - Gas 5)

Method

1. Add the oil to a large pan and fry the onions and carrots until the onions are soft - about 4 minutes
2. Add the beef mince and fry for a further 4 minutes
3. Add the stock, herbs and tomato puree
4. Bring to the boil then reduce heat
5. Simmer for 30 minutes
6. Pour the meat into a casserole dish, top with the squash mash and bake for 30 minutes

Serving suggestions

Serve hot with garden peas.

Variations

Add a little grated cheese and sliced tomatoes to the top and crisp under the grill to finish.

See also

• other shepherds' pie recipes