How do you make cottage pie?
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Prepare your ingredients. Peel and chop potatoes into chunks, dice onions, grate carrots and measure out stock and seasoning.
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Make the mash. Place the potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Bring to the boil and cook until tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain, then mash with butter, milk and seasoning until smooth.
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Cook the mince. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan. Add beef mince and onions, breaking up the meat as it cooks until browned. This is the base for the filling.
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Build the sauce. Stir in grated carrot, garlic, herbs, passata or tomato purée, and a spoonful of red wine jus or stock. Let this simmer until thick and rich, stirring occasionally.
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Assemble the pie. Spoon the beef mixture into a baking dish. Spread mashed potato over the top in an even layer. If you like, sprinkle mature cheese over the mash before baking.
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Bake until golden. Place under a hot grill or in a moderate oven until the top is bubbling and lightly browned. Let it rest for a couple of minutes before serving so the filling settles.
