Mary Berry’s Comforting Cottage Pie Twist Perfect for Families
Mary Berry, the renowned culinary expert, recently showcased her unique take on cottage pie during the inaugural episode of her new BBC Two series, *Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking*. This episode aired on October 28, 2025, and featured three recipes from her latest cookbook.
Mary Berry’s Comforting Cottage Pie Recipe
Berry’s cottage pie recipe stands out with a delightful twist. It combines braised beef with a creamy mashed potato and cauliflower topping. This hearty dish not only caters to family meals but is also ideal for batch cooking.
Key Ingredients for the Dish
- For the stew:
- Three tablespoons of sunflower oil
- 1kg braising beef, diced
- 250g smoked streaky bacon, roughly chopped
- Two large onions, thinly sliced
- Three large garlic cloves, finely grated
- 500g chestnut mushrooms, halved
- Three tablespoons of tomato puree
- 55g plain flour
- 175ml red wine
- 450ml beef stock
- One to two teaspoons of redcurrant jelly
- Three bay leaves
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- For the cauliflower and potato mash:
- 1kg floury potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 350g cauliflower, cut into florets
- Three tablespoons of milk
- Knob of unsalted butter
- 100g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
Cooking Instructions
To prepare the pie, preheat your oven to 160°C (140°C Fan). Heat the sunflower oil in a large flameproof casserole. Brown the beef in batches and set aside. In the same pan, fry the bacon and onions for a few minutes, then add the garlic and mushrooms. Stir in the tomato puree.
Whisk the flour with the red wine in a small bowl. Pour the beef stock and redcurrant jelly into the pan, then bring to a boil. Add the wine mixture and return the beef with seasoning and bay leaves. Cover and transfer to the oven, baking for 1.5 to 2 hours until tender.
For the mash, boil the potatoes in salted water for about 10–12 minutes. Add the cauliflower and cook for an additional 5–6 minutes. Drain and mash the vegetables with milk, butter, and seasoning. Spoon the mash over the cooled beef mixture and sprinkle with Cheddar.
Finally, increase the oven temperature to 200°C (180°C Fan) and bake for 40–45 minutes until the top is golden brown. Serve warm with steamed vegetables for a complete family meal.
Viewers can catch more of Berry’s culinary expertise in episodes of *Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking*, which continues airing on BBC Two, with the next episode scheduled for November 4 at 7:30 PM.
