Classic Hereford Beef Cottage Pie
There are some recipes that never go out of style and cottage pie is one of them. Using the minced beef from your Hereford Beef Box, this dish is the ultimate comfort food: rich, savoury beef topped with creamy mashed potatoes, baked until golden.
Ingredients (Serves 4-6)
For the filling:
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500g Hereford beef mince (from your Beef Box)
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2 tbsp olive oil
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1 onion, finely chopped
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2 carrots, diced
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2 celery sticks, diced
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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2 tbsp tomato purée
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2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
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400ml beef stock
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1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
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Salt & pepper to taste
For the topping:
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1kg floury potatoes (Rooster or Maris Piper work best)
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50g butter
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100ml milk
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Salt & pepper
Method
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Make the filling - Heat oil in a large pan. Fry the onion, carrots, and celery until softened (about 8 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
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Brown the mince - Add the beef mince and cook until browned all over. Stir in tomato purée and Worcestershire sauce.
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Simmer - Pour in the stock, add thyme, season, and simmer gently for 30 minutes until the sauce thickens.
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Make the mash - While the filling cooks, boil the potatoes until tender. Drain, mash with butter and milk, and season well.
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Assemble - Spoon the beef mixture into a baking dish, spread the mash evenly on top, and use a fork to create ridges (this helps it crisp up).
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Bake - Place in a preheated oven at 200°C (180°C fan) for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
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Serve - Dish up with peas, green beans, or simply on its own for the ultimate comfort dinner.
Farm Tip
Double the recipe and freeze one - cottage pie reheats beautifully and makes for a no-fuss midweek meal.
Why This Recipe Works with Hereford Beef
Our grass-fed Hereford mince is naturally full of flavour and lean but still has enough marbling to stay juicy. That’s why it makes such a rich, tasty base for family classics like cottage pie.