What's the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie? (2024)

FAQs

Is shepherd's pie and cottage pie the same? ›

The main difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's pie is cottage pie uses ground beef, and Shepherd's pie uses ground lamb. Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes. To make Shepherd's pie using this recipe, simply substitute ground lamb.

A dish of cottage pie. A dish of shepherd's pie. Cottage pie is made using similar ingredients to shepherds pie - what separates them is the type of meat used. Nationally Cottage pie is made with ground beef and Shepherds pie is made with ground lamb.

The terms shepherd's pie and cottage pie have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.

Cottage pie is an English casserole that's traditionally made with minced meat (usually ground beef), gravy, vegetables, and mashed potatoes.

Classic Shepherd's Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that's baked until golden and crisp.

Most workers ate their meat, potatoes and corn separately but workers of mainly Asian origins, combined their rations to create shepherd's pie, a more communal dish. The French-Canadian railway workers liked this new concoction, adopted the dish, and called it “pâté chinois”, which loosely translates to Chinese pie.

shepherd's pie, dish of British Isles origin that makes use of vegetables and chopped meat cooked in a casserole topped with or surrounded by mashed potatoes.

Shepherd's pie is considered a savory pie even though it lacks a flour-based crust because mashed potatoes serve the same function as a crust. The mashed potatoes form a layer on top of the meat filling, providing a protective and flavorful barrier between the filling and the outside.

I'd say either your mash or cottage pie sauce isn't thick enough. Do you add milk to your mashed potato? I've found that mash made with no milk added stays on top far better.

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

What do New Yorkers call pie? ›

In NY, pizzas are referred to as “pies,” as in a pizza pie. So, please don't get excited and ask us if we sell apple or pumpkin.

Lombardi's in New York City opened in 1905 and has been a family-run business ever since. Pizza was coined “pie” for its similarities to the dish, with its crust, circular shape, and sliced triangle portions that fit the description. By the 1900s, pizza became known as street food and the pie saw sales soar.

Cottage Pie – comfort food central! This English classic has a deeply savoury beef mince filling smothered in gravy topped with creamy mashed potato, baked until golden. One of the best cosy foods to make with ground beef!

Add the tomato puree, tinned tomatoes, stock cube, bay leaf and salt and pepper to the mince mixture. Fill the tomato tin with water and add that as well. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes to reduce. Add the peas at the last minute and mix through.

Mash well with the 225ml milk, 25g butter, and three-quarters of the 200g strong cheddar cheese, then season with freshly grated nutmeg and some salt and pepper. Spoon the meat into 2 ovenproof dishes. Pipe or spoon on the mash to cover. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese.

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

So, if you ask nearly anyone what country shepherd's pie comes from, you're bound to get the answer, "Ireland." However, cottage pie probably originated in Scotland, in the North of the UK. Meat pies were common in this region and were topped with pastry crust before the 1700s when potatoes were introduced as a crop.

Brown meat in a large skillet. While the meat is browning, mix potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, and garlic until well blended. Drain meat. Return to skillet; stir in vegetables and gravy.

Now, before I proceed, I want to make sure we're clear on what precisely shepherd's pie is. Here goes. It's a hearty dish with origins in the United Kingdom and Ireland composed of a ground meat cooked in gravy, onions, carrots, celery, and a mashed potato crust (can be top and bottom, or just top).