Budget batch cooking: Easy cheesy cottage pie with Chris Collins

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Reduced-fat cheese lowers calories while maintaining flavor.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

Start by adding 1 teaspoon of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat.

Add 500 grams of beef mince (5% fat) to the skillet and cook until caramelized, almost until burnt.

Do not season the mince at the beginning to allow for proper caramelization.

Once caramelized, add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove the mince from the skillet and set aside.

Add a little more olive oil to the skillet and add 100 grams of chopped mushrooms, 100 grams of chopped onion, and 100 grams of chopped carrot.

Sauté the vegetables until soft and slightly browned, adding a pinch of salt and pepper.

Add minced garlic and fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Stir in tomato puree and fry it off to enhance its sweetness and flavor.

Deglaze the pan with red wine and simmer for a few minutes until the alcohol cooks off.

Return the caramelized mince to the skillet and stir to combine with the wine and vegetables.

Add beef stock and 4 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, stirring well.

Add 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary.

Stir in gravy granules to thicken the mixture and cook uncovered for 30-45 minutes until the juices are absorbed.

Peel and boil 2 kilos of potatoes until tender, then let them steam to remove excess moisture.

Mash the potatoes and add butter, an entire block of cheddar cheese (saving some for topping), Dijon mustard, and whole milk.

Season the mashed potatoes with salt and black pepper to taste, ensuring they are well seasoned.

Remove the bay leaf from the beef mixture and spoon it into an oven dish, filling it halfway.

Top the beef mixture with the cheesy mashed potatoes, spreading it out evenly.

Sprinkle the reserved cheddar cheese on top of the mash.

Bake in the oven at 200°C for around 20 minutes until golden brown.

Crank on the grill for the last few minutes to achieve a crispy top.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens