Shepherds Pie Vs Cottage Pie
The term cottage pie was in use by 1791 when the potato was being introduced as an edible crop affordable for the poor cf.
Shepherds pie vs cottage pie. Mincemeat pies in pastry were nothing new in england having been around long before shepherd s pie was ever invented and before the english started liking potatoes. One of the distinguishing characteristics of shepherd s or cottage pie is that the meat filling is minced fine. They have almost everything in common save for one defining difference.
Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes. History of shepherd s pie. Potatoes were affordable ingredients that were often used by the peasants who lived in cottages.
First the answer to the big question is that the main difference between shepherd s pie and cottage pie is in the meat. Cottage meaning a modest dwelling for rural workers. So cottage pie was an easy to make affordable dish invented to fill peasant tummies.
Shepherd s pie is made with lamb while cottage pie is made with beef. The name cottage was applied to this kind of meat pie around the time potatoes were being introduced in the uk because they were an affordable for thing for peasants many of whom would live in cottages to eat. For shepherd s pie simply substitute ground lamb for the meat in the recipe and keep everything else the same.
Nope most likely pastry coffin pie crust would have originally been used. Shepherd s pie should only be named as such if it contains lamb and cottage usually applies to one made with beef. It is a dish that originated around the time that potatoes were introduced in the uk in the late 1700s.
The term shepherd s pie did not appear until 1854 and was initially used synonymously with cottage pie regardless of whether the meat was beef or mutton. British and or irish in origin the term cottage pie came about long before shepherd s 1791 vs. Both have mashed potatoes on top and occasionally on the bottom as well.