Although we usually think of pie as a dessert option, there are actually plenty of recipes that use it for more savory meals as well. In the United Kingdom in particular, shepherd’s pie is particularly popular. If you’ve never had it, shepherd’s pie is a casserole-style dish which includes plenty of hearty ingredients including mashed potatoes, peas, mixed veggies and a little bit of lamb or mutton as well. Still, there are other variations of recipes like these that are just as delicious and easy to make.
Today, we’re making a cottage pie which puts a nice twist on the classic shepherd’s pie and is just as easy to make. Instead of using some of the more traditional British flavors, we’re going to use cheddar cheese and beef, combining it all with a little bit of Italian seasoning just for more flavor. Once you’ve tried this recipe out, you’re sure to want to make it again and again. So let’s get started.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 1/4 pounds of potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 3 large cloves of minced garlic
- 3/4 cup of sour cream
- 2/3 cup of cheddar cheese
- 1 pound of ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 12-ounce package of frozen peas and carrots
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup of beef or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasonings
- 2 tablespoons of ketchup
- 1/2 cup of half-and-half
- 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
Here’s what you do:
1. To get started, pour water into a big saucepan and put it over high heat. Peel and chop up your potatoes and throw them into the pan, boiling them for 20 minutes. In the meantime, you can keep preparing your other ingredients.
2. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Get another pan out over heat and throw your ground meat into it. Keep cooking it all until the meat is well-browned and drain the excess fat out, taking the meat out if necessary. Put the meat back in the pan and add your frozen veggies, Worcestershire sauce, broth, Italian seasoning, minced garlic and ketchup as well. Stir everything together and let it keep cooking for five to seven minutes.
3. When your potatoes are done boiling, drain the water out and put them back in the pot you boiled them in. Add your sour cream, butter and half-and-half along with a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper. Mash everything together and whip it up until smooth. Mix in a third cup of your cheese in as well.
4. When that’s all prepared, pour your meat mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish (be sure to grease it up before adding the meat). After that, scoop your mashed potatoes on top as well. When the oven is hot enough, put your baking dish in and let it bake for 25 minutes.
5. After the time is up, throw the rest of your cheese on top of the baking dish and let it bake for another five minutes until the cheese starts to brown. Finally, take it out and enjoy!
As you can see, all the ingredients and steps are incredibly easy to combine. Still, the results are so delicious! If you’re a fan of shepherd’s pie at all, this variation is sure to please you and the entire family as well. On the other hand, if you’re just looking for a new way to serve some familiar ingredients, this recipe may also be for you. Above all, have fun with it and let us know what you think!
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