Cottage pie and Shepherd’s pie are two very similar dishes.
I would understand if you got confused by them!
They both consist of ground or minced meat with vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven.
They are known to be a comforting meal for many people. This comfort food has been around for a while.
Cottage pie and shepherd’s pie have existed in the British Isles since the early 1800s. They are both old-time foods that are still loved today, not just in the United Kingdom but all around the world.
But what is the difference between these two delicious pies, you may ask?
Well, the difference is they each have a different kind of meat in them. Shepherd’s pie uses ground lamb, while cottage pie uses brown ground beef.
After all this talk about these two delicious pies, you might wonder how to make them. We’ll make sure you’re in the right place because I will be showing you how to make the best cottage pie and the best Shepherd pie that your family and friends will drool over.
Shepherd’s Pie Recipe:
This traditional Shepherd’s pie recipe will change your perspective, and you will want to make it at least once a week!
Ingredients:
-1 lb of lamb, minced or ground
-1 chopped onion
-2 cloves of garlic, minced
-1 cup of mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
-2 tbsp of tomato paste
-1 cup of beef broth or beef stock
-2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
-1 tsp salt
– ½ tsp pepper
-4 cups of creamy mashed potatoes
-1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
1. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a large pan, cook the ground lamb over medium heat until it is browned. Remove most of the fat, but keep some for flavor.
2. Then, add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the lamb and cook until the onions are translucent. Stir in the mixed vegetables, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, and simmer for about 5 minutes.
3. Transfer the meat mixture into a casserole dish or large baking dish and spread it out evenly. Top it off with your mashed potatoes, spread those out evenly, and make sure that all the meat is covered. I recommend sprinkling cheddar cheese on the top, as it makes for delicious cheesy mashed potatoes.
4. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly. I hope you make this recipe and enjoy your shepherd’s pie!
Cottage Pie Recipe:
Obviously, just like shepherd’s pie, cottage pie is also a tasty and flavorful pie. It’s pretty much the same thing as shepherd’s pie, just with a few changes.
Ingredients:
-1 lb of ground beef
-1 onion, chopped
-2 cloves cloves garlic, minced
-1 cup of mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
-2 tbsp of tomato paste
-1 cup of broth
-2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
-1 tsp salt
– ½ tsp pepper
-4 cups mashed potatoes
-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese
Instructions:
1. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, cook your beef mince in a skillet over medium heat until brown. Remove some of the fat from the skillet, but leave some for flavor.
2. Then add in your onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent. Add vegetables, peas, carrots, corn, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.
3. Transfer your meat mixture to the casserole dish and spread it evenly in the pan. Then add your potato topping, which is mashed potatoes, and spread that evenly. This part is optional, but I recommend you sprinkle some cheddar cheese onto it for some extra flavor.
4. Put in the oven for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden. Enjoy this delicious casserole dish!
Mashed Potatoes:
Since these two recipes call for a lot of mashed potatoes, I thought it would be a good idea to share my favorite mashed potato recipe with you. These are the best-mashed potatoes for this recipe because they don’t take away from the flavor of the shepherd’s pie or cottage pie, but they add that potato it needs.
Ingredients:
-2 lb of potatoes (Yukon gold or Russet potatoes)
-1/2 cup of milk
-1/4 cup of butter
-salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Start by peeling your potatoes and cutting them into even shapes. Then, place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water, adding just a pinch of salt.
2. Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat, then simmer until potatoes are tender for about 15-20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and put them back in the pot.
3. In a saucepan, heat the milk and butter together until the butter is melted. Then, mash the potatoes using a potato masher, hand mixer, or potato ricer. Gradually add the warm milk and butter mixture to the potatoes, mashing them until smooth and creamy peaks.
4. Then salt and pepper them, and they will be ready to go right on your cottage or shepherd’s pie or with any meal. Enjoy!
I made a cottage pie last night, and my whole family really enjoyed it! I like serving cottage pie or shepherd’s pie with a side of green beans, but a side salad would be a nice option, too!
Wondering what beverage to enjoy with these pies? My dad enjoys a glass of red wine with his meal.
I hope you try these recipes out. Now that you know, the main difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie is the type of meat used. I also hope you learned some new recipes and tricks for cooking along the way. Make sure to come back for more delicious recipes and to make one of these recipes soon!
