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Cottage pie is a family classic – and your baby can enjoy this dish from the weaning get-go! This recipe is a great way to introduce iron-rich red meat, as it's cooked to make it super-flavourful and tender.

For the meat sauce

  • 1tbsp oil (vegetable, rapeseed, olive)
  • ½ red onion. finely diced
  • ¼ red pepper, finely diced
  • 1 small carrot, finely diced
  • 50g mushrooms, diced
  • 200g lean minced meat
  • 2tbsp plain flour
  • 2tsp tomato puree
  • 300ml unsalted beef stock
  • 1tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 25g peas

For the mash

  • 100g sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 400g white potatoes, peeled and diced
  • small knob of butter or plant-based spread
  • 1 tbsp milk

    Method

    • To make the meat sauce

    • step 2

      Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the red onion, red pepper, carrot and mushrooms and fry over high heat for 3 minutes.

    • step 3

      Add the mince and fry until browned.

    • step 4

      Add the flour and tomato puree and then stir in the stock, thyme, and bay leaves

    • step 5

      Bring up to the boil, cover and gently simmer for 40 minutes until the beef is tender.

    • step 6

      Remove the bay leaves and add the peas. Spoon the sauce into 4 ramekins.

    • To make the mash

    • step 8

      Preheat your oven to 180˚C fan/ 350˚F/Gas Mark 4.

    • step 9

      Cook the potatoes in boiling water for 12 to 15 minutes. Drain and mash with the butter and milk.

    • step 10

      Spread the mash over the sauce in the ramekins. Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes until lightly golden on top.

    Pic: Annabel Karmel

    Annabel Karmel's #1 rated recipe app has over 650 simple and delicious ideas – and new recipes every week. It also gives you exclusive access to meal planners, shopping lists, an allergy tracker, and a listen-along weaning guide. Download it from the App Store or Google Play and start your FREE TRIAL.

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