Shell Cottage Shepherd's Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes (2024)

Fictional Feasts, Harry Potter

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Shell Cottage Shepherd's Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes (1)

Shell Cottage plays an important role in the Harry Potter universe. It’s the home of Fleur and Bill – and the burial place of another beloved character.

It’s at Shell Cottage where Ron went for a long while after aburptly leaving Harry and Hermione on their search for Horcruxes. Fleur, while perhaps not well liked by Molly Weasley during their intial meeting, likely formed a close bond after the war ended and would bond over cooking for their families.

Shell Cottage Shepherd's Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes (2)

Pâté chinois is the French version of cottage pie or shepherd pie – both of which are popular English dishes served regularlly at Hogwarts.

Shell Cottage Shepherd's Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes (3)

Whether Fleur’s pâté chinois was influenced by her stay at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament or she just intuitively knew that one of Harry’s favorite foods was shepherd pie, it’s certainly a non-magical way to soothe the soul.

Shell Cottage Shepherd's Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes (4)


One thing is for sure, the meal shared amongst friends at Shell Cottage before parting ways during times of trial and tribulations brought everyone together one last time before the Battle for Hogwarts.

Shell Cottage Shepherd's Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes (5)

Shell Cottage Shepherd’s Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes

The Starving Chef

Pâté chinois is the French version of cottage pie or shepherd pie – both of which are popular English dishes served regularlly at Hogwarts.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Fictional Feasts

Cuisine Harry Potter Inspired

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 16 oz ground beef, lamb or veal
  • ½ cup onion chopped
  • ½ cup tomato chopped
  • ½ cup green bell pepper chopped
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 2 tablespoons garlic minced
  • 2 ribs celery chopped
  • 1 tablespoon thyme + more for topping
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • ½ cup sherry
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chicken base
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 package garlic mashed potatoes pre-made or homemade
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Brown the meat in a large pot over medium high heat. Once browned and crumbled, remove the meat from the pot and drain in a collander. Rinse with cold water.

  • Without washing the skillet, add the white onion and sauted for 3-5 minutes or until it has started to soften. Then add the peppers, celery, carrots and garlic. Saute for another 5 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.

  • Stir in the tomatoes and saute until they've started to lose their moisture. Scatter the flour over the vegetables and stir until the vegetables are coated in flour. Stir in the tomato paste until a thick, sticky mass of vegetables forms. Deglaze the pan with the cooking sherry and scrape up the brown bits.

  • Pour in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, chicken base and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the meat back to the pot and stir it all together. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated off.

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F. Spoon the meat mixture into the baking dish or individual ramekins. Dollop the mashed potatoe on top of the meat and use the back of the spoon to spread the potatoes into an even layer. If you want, you can also use a knife or fork to cut small designs into the potatos surface!

  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes and then broil on high for 5-10 additonal minutes – or until the top is sufficiently browned and crisp. If serving in individual ramekins, let cool until ramekins can be handled. If serving from a larger dish, let set for 5-10 minute prior to serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Note for Muggles: I recommend using store bought/premade mashed potatoes – the kind that you can find near the prepared foods in your meat department. I used Bob Evan’s garlic mashed potatoes. Cook the mashed potatoes according to the instructions on the box then stir in 2 tablespoons of butter until it has completely melted. Set aside and cool to room temperature.

Keyword ground beef, Harry Potter, lamb, potatoes, veal

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Shell Cottage Shepherd's Pie | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is shepherds pie and cottage pie the same? ›

The only significant and steady difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie is the type of meat used. Shepherd's pie traditionally features ground lamb; cottage pie recipes call for ground beef.

How do you keep mash from sinking in shepherds pie? ›

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one.

Does Ina Garten have a recipe for shepherd's pie? ›

This Shepherd's Pie is the real deal. It is full of flavor and utterly delicious. A great filling and an even better topping make this truly a stand-out. Bacon, onions and ground beef are cooked along with carrots and peas in a flavorful gravy composed of Guinness Beer, beef broth and spices.

What is British cottage pie? ›

Traditional in Britain, a Cottage Pie referred to a beef layer topped with slices of potato (recreating the tiles of a cottage) and a shepherds pie referred to a lamb layer with mash on top.

Is shepherds pie german or irish? ›

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

Why does my potato sink in cottage pie? ›

Cottage Pie – 2 little tips

I just have 2 little tips to make your Cottage Pie a resounding success: To stop the potato from sinking into the filling, cool the filling first. But this isn't a deal breaker, it's just a visual thing ie if you don't cool the filling, the potato “bleeds” into the beef mixture; and.

Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›

This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

What can I add to cottage cheese to make it tasty? ›

SWEET
  1. Fresh fruit. Try chopped peaches, plums or pineapple (or add your favorites). Berries. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc!
  2. Jam and toasted nuts.
  3. Granola and honey. Or Granola and maple syrup.
  4. Dried fruit. Try apricots or cranberries.
  5. Chocolate. Chips, chunks or shavings!

How many days can you eat cottage pie? ›

How long can you keep Cottage Pie in the fridge? Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any left overs to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Cottage Pie in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

What is a shepherds pie called when it is made from beef? ›

The two English terms have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.

What is duch*ess pie? ›

duch*ess Pie: sour cream custard studded with. blackberries, topped with oat crumble. Creamy, tart, sweet, crunchy... perfect.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What is another name for shepherd's pie? ›

Shepherd's pie, cottage pie, or in its French version hachis Parmentier, is a savoury dish of cooked minced meat topped with mashed potato and baked, formerly also called Sanders or Saunders.

What's the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie Wikipedia? ›

Cottage pie is made using the same or very similar ingredients to shepherds pie. Nationally Cottage pie is made with Beef mince and Shepherds pie is made with Lamb mince. The name "cottage pie" was first used at the end of the 18th century.

Why do they call it shepherds pie? ›

Shepherd's pie was attributed to a similar Scottish dish that used lamb or mutton rather than beef. Shepherd's herded sheep, hence the name. The textured, mash potato topping also resembles the woolly fleece of a sheep.

References

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