Rustic Cottage Pie with Mushroom Sauce
Course: Dinner | Cuisine: Continental | Diet: Vegetarian | Servings: 4 | Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
A comforting and hearty meal, this Rustic Cottage Pie with Mushroom Sauce brings together a flavorful vegetable filling paired with creamy mashed potatoes, all baked to golden perfection. The rich, savory mushroom sauce elevates the dish, making it perfect for cozy dinners or special occasions. Let’s dive into the details of this scrumptious recipe!
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 1 teaspoon (for mushroom sauce) |
| Onion (minced) | 1 medium |
| Garlic (minced) | 2 cloves |
| Button Mushrooms (finely chopped) | 250 grams (any local variety) |
| Vegetable Stock | 1 cup |
| Fresh Thyme Leaves (chopped) | 1 teaspoon (or dried thyme) |
| Salt and Pepper | To taste |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 1 tablespoon (for pie filling) |
| Onion (finely chopped) | 1 medium |
| Garlic (minced) | 2 cloves |
| Celery (diced) | 1 stalk |
| Carrot (diced) | 1 medium |
| Green Peas | 1/2 cup |
| Sweet Corn | 1/2 cup |
| Button Mushrooms (diced or quartered) | 200 grams |
| Soy Chunks (Nuggets, boiled & chopped) | 1/4 cup |
| Dried Oregano | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Dried Thyme Leaves | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Unsalted Butter | 2 tablespoons |
| Potatoes (boiled & diced) | 4 medium |
| Milk | 1/8 cup |
| Salt and Pepper | To taste |
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 310 kcal |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sodium | 250 mg |
Instructions
Step 1: Preparing the Mushroom Sauce
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and onion, sautéing them until they are soft and fragrant—about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the chopped mushrooms to the pan and cook them until tender, releasing their moisture and reducing in size, about 5-7 minutes.
- Pour in the vegetable stock, then add the chopped fresh thyme (or dried thyme if that’s what you have), salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Using an immersion blender, puree the mushroom sauce until smooth and creamy. Set the sauce aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.
Step 2: Preparing the Mashed Potato Topping
- While the mushroom sauce is simmering, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a medium-sized rectangular baking dish with a little butter.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the boiled and diced potatoes, butter, milk, salt, and pepper. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash the potatoes until they reach a coarse, yet creamy consistency. Set this aside.
Step 3: Making the Vegetable Filling
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and garlic, sautéing for about 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add the diced carrots and celery to the pan. Cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables become tender.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, stir in the peas, corn, diced button mushrooms, and the boiled and chopped soy chunks (nuggets). Add the oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper to season, adjusting to taste.
- Stir in the prepared mushroom sauce, making sure all the ingredients are well-coated. Cook this mixture for an additional 5 minutes to combine the flavors, then remove from heat.
Step 4: Assembling the Cottage Pie
- Transfer the vegetable and mushroom filling into the greased baking pan, spreading it evenly.
- Pour the remaining mushroom sauce over the vegetables, ensuring it is evenly distributed.
- Top the vegetable mixture with the mashed potatoes, spreading them out gently to cover the filling. If you want a more decorative presentation, use a piping bag to pipe the mashed potatoes over the filling in neat swirls or lines.
- Place the assembled pie in the preheated oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the top layer of mashed potatoes is golden and crispy.
Step 5: Serving the Rustic Cottage Pie
- Once the pie has baked to a beautiful golden color, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes to set.
- Serve the Rustic Cottage Pie with Mushroom Sauce as a wholesome dinner or a main course for a casual gathering or special occasion. Enjoy the savory flavors and creamy textures!
Tips for Making the Best Cottage Pie:
- For an extra creamy mashed potato topping, you can add a little more butter or cream to the mashed potatoes.
- Feel free to swap out the soy chunks with cooked lentils or any plant-based protein of your choice to suit your preferences.
- To make the dish even richer, consider adding grated cheese to the mashed potatoes before baking for a cheesy crust.
- You can prepare the vegetable filling and mushroom sauce in advance, and simply assemble and bake the pie on the day you plan to serve it.
Rustic Cottage Pie with Mushroom Sauce is the ultimate comfort food with layers of flavor-packed vegetables, a silky smooth mushroom sauce, and a fluffy mashed potato topping. This dish is a great choice for a cozy family dinner or a vegetarian-friendly main course at any gathering.
