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For the mashed potatoes

  • 1kg medium, floury potatoes
    preferably Maris Piper or Desirée, quartered
  • 50g unsalted butter
  • 100ml milk

Nutrition: per serving

  • kcal653
  • fat30g
  • saturates14g
  • carbs36g
  • sugars3g
  • fibre3g
  • protein44g
  • salt2.26g
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Method

  • step 1

    (Up to a month ahead) heat the oil in a large pan. Fry the bacon lardons over a high heat for several mins until well coloured. Using a slotted spoon, remove from the pan, drain on kitchen paper and set aside. Season the beef, then fry in the fat left in the pan. Once coloured, add all the remaining ingredients for the beef, except the cornfl our and bacon, and bring to a simmer. Partly cover the pan with a lid and continue to cook for a further 2-2½ hrs or until the beef is tender.

  • step 2

    Once cooked, tip everything into a colander set over another pan so you can catch the sauce. Tip the contents of the colander into a large pie dish, about 28cm x 23cm x 5cm. Re-boil the sauce and check for seasoning. Thicken with the loosened cornfl our, adding a little at a time and stirring until you have the desired coating consistency. Spoon enough sauce over the beef to barely cover and loosen it, then stir. Remaining sauce can be frozen, ready to re-heat and offer separately on the day.

  • step 3

    While the beef is cooling, make the mash. Boil the potatoes until tender, 15-20 mins, depending on size. Drain off the water and replace the lid. Shake the pan to break up the boiled potatoes. Add butter and milk a little at a time while mashing. Season.

  • step 4

    Spoon and spread the mashed potatoes on top of the cooled beef. Once covered, the mash can be marked with a spoon, palette knife or fork for a more interesting fi nish (see Gary’s tip, left). When cold, the cottage pie is ready to cover and freeze.

  • step 5

    The day before serving, transfer the pie to the fridge to defrost overnight. (Or reheat from frozen on the day, see below.)

  • step 6

    On the day, reheat the pie. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. If thawed, bake for 50 mins-1 hr, or until heated through, then increase heat to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 for the fi nal 10 mins for a golden brown topping. If cooking from frozen, cover with foil, then bake for 1¼ hrs; remove foil and bake uncovered for 1¼ hrs more, then increase heat as above for the last 10 mins.

RECIPE TIPS
SERVING WITH...

Just trim some French beans, then boil for several minutes in plenty of salted water, leaving a slight crisp bite before draining, seasoning and tossing in butter.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2005

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Comments, questions and tips (50)

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Overall rating

A star rating of 4.8 out of 5.47 ratings

lucieflint

Re: the bacon, I think the recipe is just badly written. Where it says add all the ingredients except cornflour and bacon I think it means all all the ingredients (except the cornflour) and the bacon. Definitely definitely add the bacon!

eatseverything

The recipe forgets to tell you to put the bacon back in. Now I have a pie in the oven with no bacon. Don't be like me. Put the bacon back in

mariabudgen

A star rating of 5 out of 5.

Wonderful rich and tasty pie. I think I made this a long long time ago but had forgotten about it. I made it yesterday for Boxing Day lunch, to serve 10, so doubled the recipe and used 2 large saucepans for the beef stew and 2 large pans for the potatoes to boil, then made 2 pies, one as per the…

Stellie18

question

Anyone know what Gary's tip is re putting the potatoes on?

Rachelen

question

How long would the meat part of the dish keep in the fridge until ready to construct with the mash and heat through? I was hoping to make it on a Friday and eat it on the Sunday.

Thank you

goodfoodteam avatar
goodfoodteam

Yes it will be fine for you to keep the meat part of this recipe in the fridge for 2 days before topping.

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