Cottage Pie

Serves: 4 Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 tbs olive oil
1 brown onion, finely chopped
500g lean beef mince
400g button mushrooms, diced
2 tbs tomato paste
400g can diced tomatoes
1 cup beef stock
3-4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Mashed potato

600g potatoes, peeled, cut into 4cm pieces (see tip)
20g butter, softened
1/3 cup milk, warmed

Method

1. To make the mashed potato Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water, add a good pinch salt. Cover and bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, partially covered, for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain and return the potatoes to hot saucepan. Roughly mash. Add the butter and milk. Beat with a wooden spoon until creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until soft. Increase heat to high. Add the mince. Cook, stirring constantly to break up mince, for 5 minutes or until browned.
3. Add the mushrooms, tomato paste, tomatoes, stock and Worcestershire sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
4. Preheat oven to 220°C. Spoon mince mixture into a 5-cup capacity ovenproof dish. Top with mashed potato. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until potato begins to turn golden. Serve.

Tip: With so many potato varieties now available, it’s important to select the right one. ‘Floury’ potatoes are high in starch and low in sugar and moisture, these are the best for mashing. Desiree, sebago, golden delight, nicola and King Edward are all great potatoes for mash.

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Power of Mushrooms , reproduced with permission.