Cottage pie

Cottage pie or shepherd's pie is a meat pie with a crust of mashed potato.[1][2][3][4]

The term cottage pie is known to have been in use in 1791,[2][5][6] when the potato was being introduced as an edible crop affordable for the poor (cf. "cottage" meaning a modest dwelling for rural workers).

In early cookery books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, and the pie dish was lined with mashed potato as well as having a mashed potato crust on top.[7][8]

The term "shepherd's pie" did not appear until 1877,[2] and since then it has sometimes (incorrectly) been used synonymously with "cottage pie", regardless of whether the principal ingredient was beef or mutton.[1][4][6][7][8][9][10] The term "shepherd's pie" should be used when the meat is mutton or lamb,[11] [12] with the origin being that shepherds are concerned with sheep[13] and not cattle.[14][15] [16]This may, however, be an example of folk etymology.

Contents

Variations

The Cumberland pie is a version with a layer of bread crumbs on top.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 1933
  2. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Online
  3. ^ "The Chambers Dictionary", Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 1999
  4. ^ a b Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Eleventh Edition (Revised), Oxford University Press, 2006
  5. ^ An A to Z of Food and Drink by John Ayto, published by Oxford University Press, 2002
  6. ^ a b The Glutton's Glossary: A Dictionary of Food and Drink Terms. Routledge. 1990. http://books.google.com/books?id=vAQOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA81&dq=cottage+pie. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  7. ^ a b Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton, 1861.
  8. ^ a b Cassell's New Universal Cookery Book by Lizzie Heritage published by Cassell and Company, 1894
  9. ^ The Constance Spry Cookery Book by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume, J M Dent & Sons, 1956
  10. ^ Chambers Dictionary, Ninth Edition, published by Chambers Harrap Publishing Ltd, 2003
  11. ^ "Delia Smith: Shepherds Pie with Crusted Leeks". http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/shepherds-pie-with-cheese-crusted-leeks,713,RC.html. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 
  12. ^ "BBC Food Recipes: Shepherd's Pie". http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/shepherdspie_2077. Retrieved 2011-10-01. 
  13. ^ "Shepherds' Pie and Cottage Pie". http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/londonfood3.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 
  14. ^ "Comments on what kind of lamb for Shepherd's Pie". http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/283678#1514818. Retrieved 2009-02-11. .
  15. ^ "Comments on Low Fat Shepherd's Pie recipe". http://lowfatcooking.about.com/b/2007/09/25/low-fat-shepherds-pie.htm#gB3. Retrieved 2009-02-11. 
  16. ^ "BBC Food Recipes: Classic cottage pie". http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/classiccottagepie_90765. Retrieved 2011-10-01. 
  17. ^ "What is Cumberland Pie?". http://britishfood.about.com/od/glossary/g/cumberlandpie.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 

External links

Shepherd's pie recipe at Wikibooks

"Shepherdess Pie" Recipes