Cumberlandpie Recipes

CUMBERLAND PIE

Steps:

• Cook the beef in the 1 tsp of bacon fat over medium heat until half cooked.
• Add the onion, carrot, mushrooms and the celery coated in the flour.
• Saute until the veggies are just beginning to soften.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and add the beef broth, Worcestershire, marmite, pepper and tarragon. Mix well.
• Put a lid on the pan; simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add bacon.
• Meanwhile mash the potatoes with 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.
• Add salt and pepper and a bit of butter is you wish.
• Transfer the meat mixture to a 4-cup casserole dish.
• Spread or pipe the potatoes over top.
• Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and a bit of paprika.
• Broil until the cheese is bubbly and the top is brown.
• Serve with salad and crusty rolls for an easy supper.

BEEF, LEEK & SWEDE CUMBERLAND PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the leek whites, carrot and celery in a flameproof casserole dish with the butter, oil and a pinch of salt, and soften, without colouring, over a gentle heat.
• Meanwhile, brown the mince in a non-stick frying pan. Cook in batches to keep it brown and avoid it going grey and soggy. If you've used a lean mince, you may need to add a drop of oil. Break up the mince well with a wooden spoon as you go.
• When the veg is soft, stir in the bacon lardons, turn up the heat a little and cook until everything is golden. Stir in the mince, followed by the flour, 3 thyme sprigs, Worcestershire sauce and Marmite. Gradually stir in the stock and bring everything to a simmer, then cover and transfer to the oven. Cook for 2 hrs until the sauce is thickened and rich, and the beef tender, removing the lid and stirring in the leek greens halfway through.
• While the beef bakes, put the swede and potato into two separate pans. Cover with cold water, bring to the boil, then simmer until tender - about 20 mins. Drain both well, then tip back into their pans over a low heat to steam-dry for a few mins. When both (but particularly the swede) look dry, combine them in one pan with the butter, milk, nutmeg and lots of seasoning. Mash until smooth.
• Transfer the mince to individual dishes or one baking dish (or leave in the casserole if you prefer, discarding the thyme sprigs). Cover with the mash, using a fork to fluff up the top. Rub the cheddar into the breadcrumbs with the leaves from the remaining thyme sprigs and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle this mixture over the mash, dot with small knobs of butter, then increase the temperature to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and bake for 30 mins until golden and crisp on top. Can be made ahead and chilled, or frozen and defrosted. Bake for an extra 10-15 mins until the sauce is bubbling.

SHEPHEDS, COTTAGE OR CUMBERLAND PIE

Steps:

• Fry the mince in the oil over a high heat until completely browned and broken down, add the onion half way through.
• Now add the carrots and the crumbled beef stock cube, mix well, add the Worcestershire sauce and the water along with the herbs and cook until almost all of the water has evaporated and the carrots are soft.
• Add the gravy granules and mix well. You should now have quite a thick mixture. You don't want it too thick so add a little more water if needed.
• Add salt and pepper to taste and put into an ovenproof dish.
• Top with the mash potatoes and bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes until browned on top.

PROPER ENGLISH COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• To Make Meat Filling: Place a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble in ground beef and saute 1 minute. Add onion and carrot, then continue to saute until meat is no longer pink and onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Mix in flour, cinnamon, mixed herbs, and parsley.
• In a small bowl, combine beef broth and tomato paste. Mix together, then add to beef mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat and simmer mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost all of liquid has been absorbed. Spoon mixture into a 9 inch pie plate.
• To Make Potato Topping: Place diced potatoes in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and place over high heat. Allow to come to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain.
• Mash potatoes until smooth, then add butter or margarine, followed by milk. Whip until fluffy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread potatoes over beef filling. Sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, until top is browned and cheese is bubbly.

BLACK CUMBERLAND SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onions in the hot oil, until nearly dark brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Pour wine into the saucepan, bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by half, about 1 minute; remove pan from heat.
• Stir currant jelly, orange juice, orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice, brown sugar, black pepper, mustard powder, ginger, cayenne pepper, and salt into onion mixture until combined.
• Bring sauce to a boil; remove from heat.

CRISPY TOPPED CUMBERLAND PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Soften the celery, onion, carrots, bay and 1 thyme sprig in a casserole with 1 tbsp oil and the butter for 10 mins. Stir in the flour, followed by the purée, Worcestershire sauce and stock cubes.
• Gradually stir in 600ml hot water, then tip in the beef and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hrs 30 mins, then uncover and cook for 30 mins -1 hr more until the meat is really tender and sauce thickened.
• Meanwhile, cook potatoes in a pan of boiling water until they're not done but about ¾ of the way there.
• Transfer meat to a baking dish. Slice spuds into 1cm thick rounds and gently toss with seasoning, the remaining oil and thyme leaves. Layer on the beef, scattering with the cheese as you layer. You can cover and chill the pie now for 1 day, or freeze for up to 3 months.
• Increase oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and bake for 30-40 mins until golden and crispy, and sauce bubbling if the dish went in cold. Serve with peas.

CUMBERLAND SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel the thin outside rind of the lemon and orange. Cut into shreds and put in a small saucepan. Add the water and bring to a boil. Simmer seven minutes. Scoop out and discard the shreds.
• Squeeze the juice from the lemon and orange and set aside.
• Add the Port, jelly, vinegar, mustard, salt, cayenne and lemon and orange juice.
• Bring to the boil and let simmer five minutes. Let cool. Serve.