I'm not sure what makes this 'Irish' as traditional cottage pies - shepherd's pies are made with ground lamb cottage pies with ground beef - always have a mashed potato topping. I made the meat filling as the recipe stated but found it incredibly bland and watery. I added onion powder lots of ground black pepper Worcestershire sauce and some Bisto gravy granules. This improved it but I wish I had added some peas or green beans. Thanks anyway.
sooo yummy!! I really love this recipe. I have been making it for everyone I know. Not only is it easy to make if you put cheese on top it is the most beautiful sight-----a keeper for sure!!
I had to make some modifications to this recipe due to food allergies. It turned out amazing. My sauce combined 2tbs Worchestershire sauce Beef Stock 1/3 cup Basalmic vinegar seasoned salt. Thanks for the recipe.
The Irish call Cottage Pie Shepherd's pie and they bung any kind of meat in it although a traditional Shepherd's Pie is made with lamb and a Cottage Pie with beef. Nuff said. I'm just rating this on the basis of the recipe. It needs peas and carrots big time and I'd leave out the part with the flour margarine ketchup consomme and especially the browning sauce you shouldn't need it. Use the consomme (or beef stock) by all means and a touch of flour to thicken but I normally simmer everything until the sauce thickens it's very important not to have too much moisture in the filling as it'll rise to the top while cooking and ruin the mashed spuds. Use a bit of tomato puree and some herbs if you're feeling adventurous I use thyme rosemary and parsley but they aren't everyone's cup of tea so use accordingly and don't forget the Worcester sauce (ONLY from Lea and Perrins!!!) and a teaspoonful of COLEMAN'S!!! powdered mustard in the sauce now you're cooking!
I left out the beef consomme since it was never mentioned in the directions and instead added a can of beef gravy to the meat and left out the ketchup and seasoning sauce. I also topped the pie with a homemade pie crust and it came out awesome! I think next time I will add the cheese before the potato since my cheese did not melt very well. Everyone loved it and the pie crust really made it. Thanks!
This cottage pie needs vegetables. Both my husband and I did not like it. I prefer it with frozen peas green beans carrots corn and a little tomato sauce but due to the liquid from the veggies there is no need to add it. Any shredded cheese on top gives it a great taste.
Too soupy...I'll cut down the amout of liquid I add next time.
I did not add beef consomme or browning sauce I did add about 2cups of water and about 2 tbls of beef bouillon to the flour paste. I added corn and peas the beef mix and it came out better than I expected.
The Irish call Cottage Pie Shepherd's pie and they bung any kind of meat in it although a traditional Shepherd's Pie is made with lamb and a Cottage Pie with beef. Nuff said. I'm just rating this on the basis of the recipe. It needs peas and carrots big time and I'd leave out the part with the flour margarine ketchup consomme and especially the browning sauce you shouldn't need it. Use the consomme (or beef stock) by all means and a touch of flour to thicken but I normally simmer everything until the sauce thickens it's very important not to have too much moisture in the filling as it'll rise to the top while cooking and ruin the mashed spuds. Use a bit of tomato puree and some herbs if you're feeling adventurous I use thyme rosemary and parsley but they aren't everyone's cup of tea so use accordingly and don't forget the Worcester sauce (ONLY from Lea and Perrins!!!) and a teaspoonful of COLEMAN'S!!! powdered mustard in the sauce now you're cooking!
