What Is The Origin Of The Name Cottage Pie
Cottage pie, often known as Shepherds pie, is a savory pie. Its cooked with ground meat and topped with mashed or sliced potatoes. It is a product of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The dish is now well-known all over the world.
At the end of the 18th century, the term cottage pie was coined. Around this period, the poorer people of Britain, those who lived in country houses, began to eat potatoes on a regular basis. A cottage pie was originally a pie with any type of meat and a potato topping.
If the meal is cooked with beef and a sliced potato topping that represents roof tiles, it is known as cottage pie in modern British English. Mass-produced pies, on the other hand, are frequently topped with mashed potatoes. Its termed shepherds pie if its made with mutton or lamb and has a mashed potato topping designed to appear like sheeps fleece . In todays cottage pie, vegetables, lentils, or beans may be used in place of meat, and cheese may be sprinkled on top of the potato, however cheese with beef is not recommended. Cottage pie is a new addition to the Shepherds pie menu, and it is not found with mutton/lamb Shepherds pie.
Hotpot is a dish that is comparable to cottage pie. Hotpot, on the other hand, is cooked slowly in a lidded crock pot or casserole dish.
Cottage pie are baked without a lid in a pie tray or baking dish to allow the potato topping to brown.
What Vegetables Go In Shepherd’s Pie
The most traditional vegetables you will find in this dish are carrots, peas, and onions. That isn’t the only mixture that is known, and our family loves the addition of some corn. Below are some other vegetables that I have seen in a cottage or shepherd’s pie and know are still considered pretty true to original flavors.
- Leeks
- Parsnips
- Shredded cabbage
If you want to stick with a truly authentic meal, these are the ones you should turn toward. For families that have different vegetable preferences, use whatever you wish. It’s my opinion that while there are some things that I would use, cooking is truly personal experience. Turn this recipe into one that fits your needs and it will be a masterpiece you prefer.
How To Make Shepherds Pie
Jen Causey Prop Styling: Kay Clark Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
The beauty of shepherds pie is that its incredibly easy to make. Since its just a mishmash of different ingredients, youve got a lot of leeway when it comes to preparation.
To make the most traditional shepherds pie possible, line a pie pan with mashed potatoes, add a minced or ground lamb and vegetable mix, then top with more mashed potatoes and bake.
Modern versions of the iconic dish vary widely, from the addition of homemade or store-bought pie crusts to diet-friendly options .
Don’t Miss: Chicken Pot Pie Recipe Campbells
Ingredients For Shepherds Pie
- Ground Beef we used lean beef, or you can substitute with ground lamb.
- Salt and Pepper after several tests, we found this simple seasoning is all that is needed. Thyme and rosemary are commonly added but we found it overpowering in any quantity.
- Onion we used yellow onion, but you can substitute any variety
- Garlic aromatic that enhances the sauce
- All-purpose flour thickens the sauce
- Red Wine use a dry red wine to add rich flavor. Use any dry red wine such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, or Sauvignon
- Beef Broth you can use Chicken broth if that is what you have on hand.
- Tomato paste rounds out the flavor of the sauce
- Worcestershire sauce adds the umami
- Frozen vegetables we use a combination of carrots, peas and corn
Variations And Similar Dishes
Sometimes there is a bottom layer of potato as well as a top.
Other potato-topped pies include:
- Potato pie is a ground red meat pie topped with mashed potato the difference is that the potato pie does not include any other vegetables.
- The modern Cumberland pie is a version with either beef or lamb and a layer of breadcrumbs and cheese on top. In medieval times, and modern-day Cumbria, the pastry crust had a filling of meat with fruits and spices.
- In Canada, pâté chinois or shepherd’s pie is made in a casserole dish with ground beef on the bottom layer, canned sweetcorn in the middle, and mashed potato on top.
- Shepherdess pie or shepherdless pie is a vegetarian version made without meat, or a vegan version made without meat and dairy.
- In the Netherlands, a very similar dish called philosopher’s stew often adds ingredients like beans, apples, prunes, or apple sauce.
- In Brazil, the name escondidinho ‘hidden’ describes the way sun-dried meat is hidden under a layer of manioc purée. The dish often includes cheese and chicken cod is sometimes used instead of beef.
Don’t Miss: Chocolate Dipped Key Lime Pie
What Is The Difference Between Shepherds Pie And Cottage Pie
Originally, a pie made with any kind of meat and mashed potato was called a cottage pie. In modern British English, the dish is usually called cottage pie if it is made with beef. If it is made with lamb, it is usually called shepherds pie . Both have mashed potatoes on top, and occasionally on the bottom as well.
The name cottage was applied to this kind of meat pie around the time potatoes were being introduced in the UK, because they were an affordable thing to eat for peasants, many of whom would live in cottages.
The term cottage pie predates shepherds by nearly a century, but each was used synonymously with the other for a long time. According to the Oxford Companion to Food, Scotland used to make its shepherds pies with pastry instead of mashed potatoes.
Although variations of this dish crop up throughout history, no name for it came into use until the introduction of the mincing machine. Before that, the meat would have to be chopped by hand, or made from leftovers.
This version of shepherds pie calls for ground lamb, readily available in most supermarkets. If you have a tight relationship with your butcher, ask them to grind it fresh. This pie was actually created as a way to use up leftover lamb, probably over a century ago. It is completely worth making even without leftover lamb.
How To Make The Meat Filling
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat then add in the onions, carrots, garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
Cook this mixture for 2-3 minutes stirring regularly.
Now, add the meat and stir to combine. Cook the meat and vegetable mixture for another 5-7 minutes stirring regularly to break up the meat. Cook until there is no pink left in the meat.
To the skillet and meat mixture, add the Worcestershire sauce, green peas, corn, and tomato paste then stir to combine.
Season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle the flour into the meat mixture and stir until it has dissolved.
Pour in the chicken broth and stir to combine, then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 4-5 minutes or until thickened.
Set the meat mixture aside and preheat the oven to 400°F.
You May Like: Pinkie Pie Playset
What’s The Difference Between A Shepherd’s Pie And Cottage Pie
A true shepherd’s pie is made with lamb while a cottage pie is made with beef. In the US, I notice that it is often called a shepherd’s pie when it really is just a cottage pie.
Since the type of meat used is the only real difference in this dish, I find most have a version using beef that they call shepherd’s pie even if it technically isn’t. Our family often grabs beef for this since lamb isn’t as readily available in our grocery stores. That said, I much prefer the truly authentic version using lamb.
If you are watching your red meat intake, you can use ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork in place of lamb or beef. While that will keep it from being truly authentic, the flavors can still be fantastic.
The Best Authentic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
One of the most iconic comfort food meals you’ll ever enjoy is this authentic shepherd’s pie recipe. A common casserole that originated in the UK, a shepherd’s pie is that all-in-one meal that includes richly seasoned beef, vegetables, and a lovely light mashed potato topping. Some have cheese, others include diced potatoes, and still, some have a variety of meats, but this is the one and only classic that my family begs me to make.
You May Like: Campbells Chicken Pot Pie Sauce
What To Serve With Shepherd’s Pie
If you’ve loaded up your pie with peas and carrots and parsnips, it may well serve as a one-pot meal. Should you want additional veggies on the side,The Guardiansuggests these same peas and carrots and parsnips, or perhaps leeks, shallots, cabbage, or kale. Or even baked beans, if you really want a taste of comfort food, British-style.
As to the proper drink? Why, tea, of course, although an Irish beer such as the dark, hearty Guinness would also work. Or you could do as Member of Parliament-turned-ex-con and novelist Jeffrey Archer apparently did, and pair the finest French champagne with your shepherd’s pie.
Dress it up and accompany it however you like, though, shepherd’s pie will never forget its working class roots, and will stick to your ribs so you can get on with the backbreaking work that built an Empire .
Typical Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients
The lamb, which is minced or ground, is simmered in a gravy which is usually flavored with onions and may also contain additional vegetables such as peas, carrots, or celery. The “crust” of the pie is made not with pastry, but with mashed potatoes, which can be used as both a top and bottom layer or just on top.
British Food in America, while endorsing the idea of keeping shepherd’s pie as simple as possible as opposed to “go all Cosmopolitan on it with red onion, olive oil and Thai chilies,” nevertheless suggests two additions to the standard mashed potato topping: mixing mashed turnips with the potatoes, and adding shredded cheddar to make a cheesy crust.
Read Also: Easy Bean Pie Recipe
Its Pie Status Has Been Questioned
The Brits are serious about pie: According to a petition calling to make wrongly describing a casserole with a pastry lid as a pie a criminal offence, we shouldnt be calling shepherds pie a pie at all! The petitioners argued that a pie has to have a top and base of pastry a casserole covered by a puff pastryor mashed potatoesisnt enough. .
Follow Me On Instagram
Shepherds Pie uses both lean ground beef and Italian sausage . Then its filled with all kinds of veggies: peas, carrots, corn, leeks, garlic, onions and bell peppers. The seasoning is what makes this recipe so special.
It includes tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, thyme and rosemary and the combination is so tasty. The mashed potato topping is absolutely sensational. It has parmesan and cheddar cheeses and its so thick and creamy because of the butter and heavy whipping cream. Using a whole egg yolk is also genius. All in all this is one of the BEST casseroles Ive ever eaten. High praise, I know.
I LOVE Shepherds Pie even though it was not a traditional dish my mom ever made. It wasnt until after I moved away from home that I first started eating this delightful one-dish meal. The first time I remember eating Shepherds Pie was when I worked at Walt Disney World back in the 1970s.
I sampled this from the company cafeteria and loved it instantly. Ive scoured recipes over the years and Ive probably tried at least ten or fifteen different ones over the decades, but no other Shepherds Pie recipe has compared to this one. Sensational is an understatement.
If youre looking for a fabulous Shepherds Pie recipe, this one cant be beat! Youre family will bless you and theyll ask you to make this over and over again, I assure you. And you will be only too happy to oblige.
Shepherds Pie is one of the BEST meat pies youll ever eat!
Heres what I did.
Read Also: 8 Inch Pyrex Pie Plate
More About This Recipe
- Shepherds pie is also commonly called cottage pie, but there actually is a key difference between the two. Cottage pie traditionally contains beef while shepherds pie is usually filled with lamb. Regardless of what you call it, if youre in search of a brilliant way to use up those uneaten leftovers, then youve found what youre looking for in this shepherds pie recipe. The holidays are particularly convenient time to throw in whatever meat and vegetables youve got lingering in the fridge into a shepherds pie recipe recipe thats all your own. Warm, savory and oh-so-comforting, this cheesy beef shepherds pie is everything you love about a hearty beef dinner and then some.
Also Check: Plastic Pie Containers With Lids
What Is The Origin Of Shepherds Pie
Shepherds pie first came about late in the 1700s and early 1800s. Accordingly, housewives back then were on the frugal side. Much like we do today, they were looking for ways to incorporate those leftovers that husbands and kids would turn up their noses at. The struggle was real back then just like today.
Shepherds pie, common and inexpensive British dish originated from the sheep country in Scotland and northern England. It is a homely thing in one or another sense of the word, depending on your point of view. The coziest comfort food on a wintry night, shepherds pie in different guise. Comfort comes from fresh ingredients selected for the very purpose of assembling the pie.
Don’t Miss: Key Lime Pie Co
Whats The Difference Between Shepherds Pie And Cottage Pie
Shepherds pie was originally called cottage pie back in the 18th century in Ireland and the United Kingdom as a way to describe a dish made by frugal cottage dwellers to use up leftovers. These days, the two terms are often used interchangeably, but in general, shepherds pie is made with lamb and cottage pie is made with beef. The mashed potato topper could be replaced with mashed turnips or other root vegetables, or even with a pastry crust .
Related: Our Top 10 Shepherds Pie Recipes
Is Beef Used In Shepherds Pie
Ground lamb would be used in a traditional Irish Shepherds Pie.
The meat is the distinction between Shepherds Pie and Cottage Pie.
Ground beef is used in Cottage Pie, while ground lamb is used in Shepherds Pie.
Shepherds Pie was the name I gave to this dish.
However, I developed the recipe with either beef or ground lamb in mind.
Because ground beef is so easily available, I usually use it.
I would use ground lamb for a special event, such as St. Patricks Day.
Recommended Reading: Muslims Bean Pie Recipes