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Cottage pie with Stilton Mash
Ingredients
- 900 g | 2lb Red Tractor braising steak cut into small cubes
- 6 tbsp Red Tractor plain flour seasoned with salt and pepper
- rapeseed canola oil for frying
- 500 ml | 2 cups hot beef stock
- 250 ml | 1 cup dark ale
- 3 Red Tractor onions peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 large garlic cloves peeled and sliced
- 2 large Red Tractor carrots peeled and finely diced
- 2 celery sticks finely diced
- 2 star anise
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp mild curry powder
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 7 large Red Tractor floury potatoes such as Maris Piper peeled and cubed
- 125 ml | 1/2 cup Red Tractor whole milk or more, as needed
- 50 g | 2 tbsp Red Tractor butter
- 100 g | 3.5oz Red Tractor Stilton cheese crumbled
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- buttered peas and green beans to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 150C (300F).
- Put the flour into a large plate and season liberally with salt and pepper. Add the beef cubes and toss until they are lightly coated in flour.
- Heat a generous glug of rapeseed oil in a large casserole dish (I used my Le Creuset). Add the beef, in batches if necessary, and brown the cubes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
- Add a splash of the stock to deglaze the casserole and scrape any sticky brown bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Pour any liquid from the pan in with the beef.
- Add more oil to the casserole and fry the onions over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the curry powder, cumin, garlic, carrots and celery and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, stock and ale.
- Add the cinnamon stick, star anise and the browned beef. Bring to the boil, cover the casserole and place in the oven. Cook for 2 hours – checking after 1 hour to give the stew a little stir.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and transfer the stew to a large, deep, ovenproof dish to cool slightly. Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise. Check the seasoning and sprinkle with the thyme.
- Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Cover the pot and bring to the boil. Lower heat to a rolling simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain and return to the pot. Add the butter and milk and mash together until smooth. Add a splash more milk if the mash is too dry. Taste and season.
- Transfer the mash to a large piping bag and pipe over the stew. Sprinkle with the crumbled cheese.
- Preheat the oven to 180C (350F) and cook for about 25 minutes until the mash starts to colour a little and the middle is very hot.
- Leave the pie to cool for 10-15 minutes and serve with buttered peas and steamed green beans on the side.
kim styles says
Oh my that sounds and looks delicious !!!
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Now why haven't I thought of adding Stilton to mash? Brilliant! I bet it tastes incredible against that lovely beefy filling…… I could eat it off the screen!
Anne Dalzell says
I might try a different cheese (i'm not really a stilton fan) but when i look at all your wonderful dishes i do wonder if you ever eat beans on toast?! Honestly even if you did i bet it would look special. x
Munchies and Munchkins says
Ah this looks amazing, I just want to grab a spoon and dive in. Love it.
Lucy Parissi says
Thank you – it was that kind of a dish!
helen says
that looks & sounds amazing!
Angela Field says
This looks delicious and with Winter coming I need this!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Ooh I love the idea of the stilton mash! My husband would love this, cottage pie is such a classic.
belleau kitchen says
gorgeous! Stilton mash… oh YES!!!!!!
Lucy Parissi says
Am all about the cheese these days Dom…
Hannah Hossack-Lodge says
That mash looks AMAZING! I often add cheddar to mashed potatoes but I've never thought of trying stilton, genius!
Lucy Parissi says
It melts in a really nice way Hannah – and makes it even more delicious.
Louise | Cygnet Kitchen says
This looks like the ultimate comfort food Lucy! I love the idea of the Stilton mash x
Sammie says
Absolutely delicious! I love that you've used hearty steak pieces and vamped up the mash with Stilton. My kind of food. Thanks for sharing a stunning recipe. Sammie http://www.feastingisfun.com
Lucy Parissi says
Thanks Sammie – it really is delicious. Proper belly-filling food. Even my fussy kids ate this without protest.