Proper Cottage Pie with Ground Beef

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 Carrot, diced
• 1 cup Peas
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1½ lb potatoes, peeled and chunked
• 3 tbsp butter and ⅓ cup milk
• ½ cup grated cheddar
• Salt and black pepper

Method

1. Brown the Ground Beef hard in a wide pan over medium-high until crusty in places, then soften the onion and Carrot alongside, 5 minutes.
2. Stir in tomato paste, thyme, and Worcestershire for 1 minute, add stock, and simmer 10–12 minutes until the gravy is thick enough to mound on a spoon. Fold in the Peas and season.
3. Meanwhile boil the potatoes until tender, then mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth.
4. Spread the filling in a baking dish, roof it with mash, and drag a fork across the top — the ridges are where the crunch lives. Scatter with cheddar.
5. Bake at 400°F (205°C) for 20–25 minutes until bubbling at the edges and bronzed on the ridges. Rest 5 minutes before serving.