Cottage Pe

[Moonhead]

What's the difference between Cottage, and Shepherd's Pie? I once heard, Cottage is made with Beef mince, and Shepherd's with Lamb mince. Anyone know really? Or is it just different names for the same thing?

[rekstout]

You've got it correct - there are many variations (adding cheese / veg / pieces of meat instead of mince etc.) - but the fundamental difference is beef vs lamb

[Moonhead]

Ooo thankyou rekstout.. I only posted that question 2 minutes ago!

[andy hughes]

Rekstout is on the button - the theory is that ashepherd would be out in the hills, and would make a pie with the meat available - lamb or mutton, but people in cottages, i.e. the towns or villages, would have access to beef for their pies. I think with modern eating, the labels have become interchangeable, but if you want to use the proper terms, those are they.

[xyzzyplugh]

If the shepherd was so desperate for a pie that he would kill one of his sheep, where would he get the pastry from?

[alexprior]

It isn't made with pastry but baked in the oven with a mashed potato top. But yes, if he were so hungry he would kill and butcher a sheep, then mince it, hunt some potatoes to boild and mash as well as other ingredients then he can't have much shepherding to do. Surely he would take sandwiches or if is going to go to that much trouble, order a pizza on his mobile.

[raynerr]

As mentioned earlier, and I asked my old mum this years ago. Made with lamb equalls Shepherds Pie. Made with Beef equalls Cottage Pie, was her answer. But this was the women who advised me to buy Marconi shares in the mid 90's.