Cottage pie

An example of cottage pie, made with minced beef

Cottage pie or shepherd's pie is a meat pie with a crust of mashed potato.^[1][2][3][4]

The term cottage pie is known to have been in use in 1791,^[2][5][6] when the potato was being introduced as an edible crop affordable for the poor (cf. "cottage" meaning a modest dwelling for rural workers).

In early cookery books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, and the pie dish was lined with mashed potato as well as having a mashed potato crust on top.^[7][8]

The term "shepherd's pie" did not appear until 1877,^[2] and since then it has sometimes (incorrectly) been used synonymously with "cottage pie", regardless of whether the principal ingredient was beef or mutton.^{[1][4][6][7][8][9][10]} The term "shepherd's pie" should be used when the meat is mutton or lamb,^{[11] [12]} with the origin being that shepherds are concerned with sheep^[13] and not cattle.^{[14][15] [16]}This may, however, be an example of folk etymology.

Variations

File:Shepherds Pie1.jpg

Shepherdess Pie with peas

• The Cumberland pie is a version with a layer of bread crumbs on top.^[17]
• A similar British dish made with fish is a fish pie.
• A vegetarian version (occasionally named "Shepherdess Pie") can be made using soya or other meat substitutes (like tofu or Quorn), or legumes such as lentils or chick peas,.
• In Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Chile a similar dish is called "pastel de papa (potato pie).
• In the Dominican Republic this is called pastelón de papa (potato casserole), it has a layer of potatoes, one or two of meat, and another of potatoes, topped with a layer of cheese.
• In France, a similar dish is called hachis Parmentier.
• In Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon a similar dish is referred to as "Siniyet Batata" (literally meaning a plate of potatoes), or "Kibbet Batata".
• In Quebec, a similar dish is called pâté chinois (literally, "Chinese pie").
• In Russia, a similar dish is called "Картофельная запеканка" (Kartofel'naya zapekanka, or "potato baked pudding").
• In Brazil a similar dish is called "bolo de batata" (literally meaning a potato cake)
• In Portugal a similar dish is called "Empadão", with two layers of mashed potatoes and a layer of minced beef in between.

See also

Food portal

• Antoine-Augustin Parmentier
• Corned beef pie
• Pot pie
• Tourtiere
• British cuisine
• Irish cuisine

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 1933
2. ^ ^{a b c} Merriam-Webster Online
3. ^ "The Chambers Dictionary", Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 1999
4. ^ ^{a b} Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Eleventh Edition (Revised), Oxford University Press, 2006
5. ^ An A to Z of Food and Drink by John Ayto, published by Oxford University Press, 2002
6. ^ ^{a b} The Glutton's Glossary: A Dictionary of Food and Drink Terms. Routledge. 1990. http://books.google.com/books?id=vAQOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA81&dq=cottage+pie. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton, 1861.
8. ^ ^{a b} Cassell's New Universal Cookery Book by Lizzie Heritage published by Cassell and Company, 1894
9. ^ The Constance Spry Cookery Book by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume, J M Dent & Sons, 1956
10. ^ Chambers Dictionary, Ninth Edition, published by Chambers Harrap Publishing Ltd, 2003
11. ^ "Delia Smith: Shepherds Pie with Crusted Leeks". http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/shepherds-pie-with-cheese-crusted-leeks,713,RC.html. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 
12. ^ "BBC Food Recipies: Shepherd's Pie". http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/shepherdspie_2077. Retrieved 2011-10-01. 
13. ^ "Shepherds' Pie and Cottage Pie". http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/londonfood3.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 
14. ^ "Comments on what kind of lamb for Shepherd's Pie". http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/283678#1514818. Retrieved 2009-02-11. .
15. ^ "Comments on Low Fat Shepherd's Pie recipe". http://lowfatcooking.about.com/b/2007/09/25/low-fat-shepherds-pie.htm#gB3. Retrieved 2009-02-11. 
16. ^ "BBC Food Recipies: Classic cottage pie". http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/classiccottagepie_90765. Retrieved 2011-10-01. 
17. ^ "What is Cumberland Pie?". http://britishfood.about.com/od/glossary/g/cumberlandpie.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 

External links

Shepherd's pie recipe at Wikibooks "Shepherdess Pie" Recipes

• Recipe from Womens Institute
• Netmums recipe