Rustic Cottage Pie

Cottage pie and shepherd's pie is mostly the same thing, a meat pie with a potato crust on top. There is one fundamental difference: The English "cottage pie" is made with minced beef and the Irish "shepherd's pie" is made with minced lamb. Both can be made with minced leftover meat or fresh ground meat. I use smashed potatoes in their jackets (unpeeled) to make it more rustic looking than the usual whipped or mashed potatoes.

Recipe By     :Ellen M. Ennis Davis
Serving Size  : 6    

  1        large  carrot -- diced
  1        cup  frozen peas
  2        lbs.  ground beef
  2        medium  onions -- diced
  2        tablespoons  cornstarch
  2        tablespoons  Worcestershire sauce -- Gluten Free (or             balsamic vinegar)
            Salt and pepper to taste
  2        Beef Broth / low Sodium  water

Cut potatoes into large chunks, cover with salted water and cook until tender.

Roughly mash the potatoes, you don't want them smooth.

Cover carrots in a bowl with 3 tablespoons water, cover and steam in the microwave for 3 minutes.

In a sieve run cool water over frozen peas to thaw.

Crumble the meat into a large skillet, brown with the onions (drain off excess fat that accumulates).

Add bullion granules and cornstarch into the pan, stir it into the meat.

Add the water, Worcestershire sauce, peas and carrots, mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper

Transfer the mixture to a greased, 2 quart casserole baking dish. Pack the meat mixture down fairly tightly into the casserole.

Spoon the potatoes over top as even as you can, rough up the potatoes with a fork, a pebbled surface is what you are trying to achieve.

Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown.

Allow to cool for about five minutes before serving. 

Cuisine:"Irish and UK
Source:  "Pooka's What's for Dinner: Gluten Free with Attitude"
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Per Serving : 623 Calories; 41g Fat (58.9% calories from fat); 30g Protein; 34g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; 129mg Cholesterol; 521mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 3 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Vegetable; 6 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.