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Shepherd...Cottage...I'm so confused!

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When it comes to comfort food a few key dishes come to my mind. Spaghetti with meat sauce, homemade macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie and shepherd's pie. They are my go-to dishes when the cool breeze hits our 'hood. They each have equal parts nostalgia, carbs and fat...what's not to love? However, it was when my sister lived in London, England that a shadow of doubt fell over one of my faves...shepherd's pie. Apparently, in the England (where most things in Canada originate) there is a popular dinner casserole dish of minced meat topped with a potato crust called cottage pie. But, this sounds just like my mom's shepherd's pie...I'm was so confused?!

Well, after a lot of research on the subject I have discovered that the two dishes are basically interchangeable. Some people believe that shepherd's pie should always be made with mutton or lamb (sheep) because shepherds care for sheep. Other people consider this to be a food myth...who knew such myths existed?  There seems to be some discrepancies depending on where you live. What is really fascinating is that this style of "pie" exists all over the world. What I have discovered is that there are no hard and fast rules for either of these dishes. I found recipes with peas, without peas, with carrots, with tomato paste, with celery and without. I even found recipes with cheese melted on top. The bottom line, take some minced meat (ground) add some chopped veggie and top with mashed potato - done. Here's what I call shepherd's pie.

Shepherd's pie a la Jen
(adapted from Canadian Living)
1-½ lb lean ground beef
1 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
¼ teaspoon dried savory
salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup all purpose flour
2 cups beef stock
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 medium diced carrots
½ cup frozen peas
½ cup cut mini corns
5 large yukon gold potatoes
¾ cup milk
1 heaping tablespoon unsalted butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
**Read all the steps. While the meat mixture is cooking, make the mashed potato topping.
Preheat oven to 400F
1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef.
2. Once cooked, drain any fat. 
3. Return meat to skillet, add onion and garlic to skillet and saute until tender.
4. Stir in thyme, savory, salt and pepper
5. Add flour, stir in (this cooks off the flour flavour)
6. Add stock, Worcestershire sauce, carrots, peas and corn
7. Partially cover skillet, simmer for 20 minutes, until thickened and veggies are tender
8. Transfer meat mixture to 10 cup baking dish.
While the meat is cooking...
1. Chop potatoes and place in a large pot of water, bring to a boil. Boil potatoes until tender, approximately 15 minutes.
3. Drain the potatoes, then return to the same pot.
4. Mash the potatoes, adding the milk, butter and salt and pepper (to taste)
Assemble the pie...
1. Scoop and spread the mashed potatoes on top of the cooled meat mixture
2. Brush top of mashed potatoes with beaten egg (don't use the entire egg, brush it lightly)
3. Bake the pie in 400F oven for 15-20 minutes, until it is hot and bubbling
I packed up this pie and brought it along to a pot luck dinner we enjoyed after our apple picking outing this weekend. Served with a salad and baguette, this meal is a simple and healthy way to end the day. The best part is that the leftovers can be easily reheated and enjoyed the following day. 
So, now the question remains...cottage pie or shepherd's pie...where does your allegiance lie?

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About Jen

Jen Farr is a mother living in Toronto, Canada. She has been sharing her DIY crafts, recipes, activities and parenting advice for over 15 years on her blog Kitchen Counter Chronicle. Jen is the mom of 2 lovely daughters. She believes in the power of taking small steps that can make big impacts on the world.

Comments

  1. Wendy says

    I have a whole pot of mash left-over which Shaun (the Brit) begged me to turn into Cottage Pie. I told him I will no longer eat such "peasant food" and (I am a vegetarian) compromised by making salmon fish cakes.

  2. KitchenCounterChronicles says

    Yes, fish cakes are another alternative...well done!

  3. andie jaye says

    hmmm.. i've never actually known what shepherd's pie was. thanks for the cooking lesson 🙂 it looks pretty good too! thanks so much for linking up to tip-toe thru tuesday last week! hope to see you again this week!