Lentil and beef cottage pie

Serves: 6
Course: Dinner
Cooking Time: 35 mins
Prep Time: 15 mins
Ingredients
  • 2tbs olive oil
  • 500g minced beef
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 sticks celery, diced
  • 3 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2tbs white flour
  • 100ml red wine, optional
  • 500ml stock
  • 500g cooked Puy lentils (2 tins, drained)
  • 2tbs tomato puree
  • 2tbs soy sauce
  • 2 sprigs sage
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 2tbs finely chopped thyme
  • Salt and pepper
  • 800g potatoes, boiled and mashed
  1. Place a large pan over a medium heat. Add the oil and minced beef. Fry for 8-10 minutes until it is browned. Add the onion and continue to cook for another few minutes until softened before adding the garlic, celery and carrot.
  2. Sprinkle the flour over and stir well. Leave to cook for a minute then pour in the wine. Stir to combine and burn off the alcohol. Next pour in the stock. Mix well to avoid any lumps.
  3. Add the tomato purée, soy sauce and herbs. Mix well and leave to simmer for 25-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the vegetables are cooked. Add the lentils and stir well. Taste for seasoning, add salt and black pepper as needed.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a large, two-litre ovenproof dish. Remove the whole rosemary and sage sprigs.
  5. Top with the hot mashed potatoes and drizzle with little oil. Place under a hot grill to crisp up for 10 minutes then serve right away.
Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a food writer