British food: Cottage Pie

Serves 4
20 minutes' preparation time
40 minutes' cooking time

Ingredients

• 4 baking potatoes
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 peeled and finely chopped carrot
• 200g (8oz) chopped button mushrooms
• 2 sticks finely chopped celery
• 500g (1 lb) minced beef
• 300ml (½ pint) gravy (made from granules or powder)
• 1 knob (half a tablespoon) of butter
• Salt and freshly ground pepper (optional)
• Grated cheese

Method

1. Peel the potatoes and cut into small pieces. Cook in boiling salted water until tender. Drain, and leave in the pan with the lid on to steam dry.

2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4.

3. Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat, and add all the chopped onions, garlic and vegetables. Sweat the onions gently for 10 minutes until soft. Add the mince and cook until brown.

4. Pour the gravy over the meat. Cook for 5 minutes and season to taste. Pour the mince mix into an ovenproof dish and leave to cool slightly.

5. Meanwhile, mash the potatoes with the butter and seasoning. Spread over the mince, and top with grated cheese, if you like.

6. Cook for 35-40 minutes.

Enjoy!