Easy & Convenient Cottage Pie

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Preheat Oven & Brown Mince: Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C Fan / Gas Mark 6). Heat oil in a large saucepan or frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the minced beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it's browned all over. Drain off any excess fat.

Step 2

Cook the Vegetables: Add the frozen vegetable base mix directly to the pan with the browned mince. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables have softened. Add the crushed garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.

Step 3

Make the Gravy Base: Sprinkle the plain flour over the mince and vegetables. Stir everything together and cook for 1 minute – this cooks out the raw flour taste. Stir in the tomato purée.

Step 4

Simmer the Filling: Gradually pour in the 400ml of beef stock, stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Add the Worcestershire sauce, dried herbs, a good pinch of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Step 5

Thicken & Finish: Reduce the heat, partially cover the pan, and let the filling simmer for 15-20 minutes. The gravy should thicken nicely. If you're using frozen peas, stir them in for the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Step 6

Assemble the Pie: Once the filling is rich and thick, pour it into an ovenproof dish (a 2-litre dish, or roughly 20x30cm, is ideal) and spread it out evenly.

Step 7

Prepare the Topping: Heat the mashed potato according to the package instructions. For extra flavour, you can stir the optional 25g of butter into the hot mash.

Step 8

Top and Bake: Spoon the hot mash over the beef filling. Gently spread it to the edges of the dish to seal in the filling. Use a fork to fluff up the surface of the mash, creating ridges that will crisp up beautifully. Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top.

Step 9

Bake: Place the dish on a baking tray (to catch any potential bubbles) and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the mash is golden-brown and the filling is bubbling up at the sides.

Step 10

Rest & Serve: Let the pie rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. It will be extremely hot! It's delicious served on its own or with some steamed green beans or cabbage.