Cottage pie
A hearty and comforting cottage pie made with rich, savory mince in a red wine and thyme sauce, topped with buttery mashed potatoes and grilled until golden. A timeless family favorite.
Updated : 06 November, 2025
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
For the cottage pie filling
50 milliliters
Olive oil
3
Shallots
650 grams
Beef mince
2 tablespoon
Tomato purée
1 tablespoon
Flour
150 milliliters
Red wine
4 stalk
Thyme
400 milliliters
Meat broth
to taste
Worcestershire sauce
to taste
Salt
to taste
Ground black pepper
For the mashed potatoes
900 grams
Potato
115 grams
Butter
125 milliliters
Milk
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Heat half the oil in a large, heavy-based pan. Add the chopped onion and cook gently until softened, then transfer to a plate and set aside.
Step 2
Return the pan to the heat and add the remaining oil. Once hot, add the mince and fry, in batches if necessary, for 4-5 minutes, or until browned all over.
Step 3
Stir the cooked onion back into the pan along with the tomato purée and cook for 1 minute. Add the flour and cook for another minute, stirring constantly. Pour in the red wine, scraping up any caramelised bits from the base with a wooden spoon, and add the thyme.
Step 4
Pour in the stock and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 45 minutes, or until the mince is tender and the mixture has thickened. Season to taste and add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Keep warm over very low heat.
Step 5
Meanwhile, prepare the mash. Place the potatoes in a pan of salted water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until tender.
Step 6
Drain the potatoes, return them to the pan, and place over the heat for about 1 minute to remove any excess moisture. Mash thoroughly, then add the butter and milk, beating until smooth and creamy. Season to taste.
Step 7
Preheat the grill to high. Spoon the cottage pie filling into a baking dish and spread the mashed potato evenly over the top. Grill for 8-10 minutes, or until the topping is golden-brown.
Step 8
Serve the golden cottage pie hot with the buttery peas on the side.