Sweet Potato Cottage Pie

Sweet potato cottage pie. It’s what happens when you make a ragout (which is pretty much a fancy word for beef simmered in red wine), smother it with creamy mashed potatoes, and bake it to golden brown and bubbly gorgeousness. This recipe veers a little from traditional cottage pie with the inclusion of sweet potatoes in the mash, although we kept some russets in there, too, just to keep things being too healthy. The resulting touch of sweetness melds perfectly with the richness of the ragout. And actually, the ragout is so lovely that you can skip the casserole part those nights when you’re pressed for time and simply toss it with some pasta you boiled while the sauce cooks.–Angie Zoobkoff

What’s The Difference Between Cottage Pie And Shepherd’s Pie?

You’ve probably heard of shepherd’s pie. And obviously you’ve heard of cottage pie. Both are economical yet enticing casseroles that stretch your meat dollars so you can frugally feed a family. And both are essentially a meat ragout, or stew, smothered with mashed potatoes. The only difference is that shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with lamb whereas cottage pie is made with beef.

Sweet Potato Cottage Pie

• Quick Glance
• 45 M
• 1 H, 30 M
• Serves 4 to 6

Print Recipe

Want it? Click it.

Ingredients

Directions

• Make the beef ragout
• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• 2. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 more minute. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring and crumbling it with a spoon, until well browned, about 5 minutes. Spoon off and discard any fat and season the beef with salt and pepper to taste.
• 3. Add the tomato purée paste, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaves, and wine to the pan and simmer over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaves.
• Make the mashed sweet potato topping
• 4. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Peel the potatoes and sweet potatoes, cutting them into 1 1/2-inch (4-cm) chunks. Toss them in the boiling water and cook until tender, 8 to 12 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the butter and begin to mash with a handheld potato masher or the back of a sturdy spoon. Gradually add the warm milk, the nutmeg (if using), and the Parmesan cheese. Mash until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Assemble the sweet potato cottage pie
• 5. Scrape the ground beef mixture into a 2-quart (1.9-liter) casserole or other ovenproof dish, such as an 8 1/2-by-11-inch baking dish and smother it with the mashed potatoes. Slide the dish in the oven and bake until golden brown and bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes. Let stand for at least 5 minutes before scooping and serving straight from the dish.