Cottage Pie

Traditionally Cottage Pie refers to an English meat pie made with beef mince with a topping of mashed potato that serves as the crust.

There is a variation of this dish where lamb or mutton mince is used instead of beef known as Sheperd’s Pie – this term did not appear until the 1870’s.

Cottage Pie as term has been found to have been in use in 1791, which is around the time when potato was being introduce as an edible crop that is affordable to the poor – “cottage” was meant as a modest dwelling for rural workers.

In early cookery books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, and the pie dish was lined with mashed potato as well as having a mashed potato crust on top.

Both terms have been used interchangeably, regardless of whether the principal ingredient is beef, lamb or mutton. However, more recently there is a popular tendency to differenciate between the two terms again.

The suggestion is that the origin of the term “sheperd’s pie” is that sheperds are concerned with sheep and not cattle. Though this may just be an example of folk etymology.

Around the World

• In Ireland the dish is commonly called shepherd’s pie even when containing beef.

• The Australian meat pie with a layer of mashed potato replacing the usual pastry crust, is also known as a Shepherds Pie. This variant is also known in New Zealand, as a potato top pie.

• In the United States a similar dish is called cowboy pie. In New England the most common recipe for shepherd’s pie consists of ground beef, canned creamed corn, and mashed potatoes.

• In English-speaking Canada, the dish is referred to as shepherd’s pie, even with a beef filling.

• In Quebec, a similar dish is called Pâté chinois (Chinese pie).

• In France, a similar dish is called hachis Parmentier.

• A vegetarian version can be made using soya or other meat substitutes, or legumes such as lentils or chick peas.

• In Jordan, Syria and Lebanon a similar dish is referred to as “Siniyet Batata” (literally meaning a plate of potatoes), or “Kibbet Batata”.

• In Russia, a similar dish is called “Картофельная запеканка” (Kartofel’naya zapekanka, or “Potato baked pudding”).

• A similar British dish made with fish is a fish pie

• In Argentina and Chile a similar dish is called pastel de papa (potato pie).

• In the Dominican Republic this is called pastelon de papa (pie casserole), it has a layer of potatoes, one or two of meat, and another of potatoes topped with a layer of your favorite cheese or cheeses.

For a delicious and simple Cottage Pie recipe click here.