A great comfort food that will give loads of left overs, this cottage pie is especially great in the winter time. I however am a crazy person and have made it smack bang in the middle of summer. Thank goodness for air conditioning!

This is a great pie to make when you have lots of left over vegies that just need to be eaten. With a cheesy potato-y top, it’s a sure fire way to get kidlets to eat their vegies!

One Pot Cottage Pie

Prep time 15 mins, Cooking time 50 mins, Serves 8 – 10

1 large onion – diced

1kg beef mince

4 cloves garlic – chopped finely

2 carrots – diced

½ head broccoli – chopped into small heads

¼ red cabbage – sliced finely

¼ green cabbage – sliced finely

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen beans

5 large potatoes – mashed

810g tin crushed tomato

¾ cup grated cheese (I used a mix of parmesan and tasty)

½ cup red wine

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

3 tbs tomato paste

3 tsp sugar

4 heaped tsp beef stock powder

3 heaped tsp Gravox traditional gravy – powdered

3 sprigs fresh oregano

3 fresh bay leaves

1 tbs butter

¼ cup milk

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Prepare a large pot that can be used on a stove top as well as oven by heating some oil on a medium/high heat.
2. Brown the onions and garlic
3. Add the minced beef. When half cooked sprinkle over the powdered beef stock and mix through. Cook until beef is no longer pink.
4. Add all the remaining ingredients (except the mashed potato, cheese, butter and milk) and combine.
5. When bubbling reduced the heat and simmer on medium for 30 minutes or until the liquid is reduced.
6. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
7. Meanwhile prepare the potatoes. Dice into 3cm cubes and boil until soft. Drain and add butter and milk and mash well. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. When mince mixture is reduced remove from heat, spoon over mashed potato and sprinkle generously with cheese.
9. By this time the oven should be at temperature. Move entire pot of mince and potato to the oven and cook for a further 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and gone golden.
10. Now you’re ready to serve!

~A