Shepherd's 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 been used synonymously with "cottage pie", regardless of whether the principal ingredient was beef or mutton.[1][4][6][7][8][9][10] There is now a popular tendency for "shepherd's pie" to be used when the meat is mutton or lamb,[11] with the suggested origin being that shepherds are concerned with sheep[12] and not cattle.[13][14] This may, however, be an example of folk etymology.
Variations
- The cumberland pie is a version with a layer of bread crumbs on top.[15]
- A similar British dish made with fish is a fish pie.
- A vegetarian version can be made using soya or other meat substitutes (like tofu or Quorn), or legumes such as lentils or chick peas.
- In Argentina and Chile a similar dish is called "pastel de papa (potato pie).
- In the Dominican Republic this is called pastelón de papa (potato casserole), it has a layer of potatoes, one or two of meat, and another of potatoes, topped with a layer of cheese.
- In France, a similar dish is called hachis Parmentier.
- In Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon a similar dish is referred to as "Siniyet Batata" (literally meaning a plate of potatoes), or "Kibbet Batata".
- In Quebec, a similar dish is called pâté chinois (literally, "Chinese pie").
- In Russia, a similar dish is called "Картофельная запеканка" (Kartofel'naya zapekanka, or "potato baked pudding").
- In Brazil a similar dish is called "bolo de batata" (literally meaning a potato cake)
- In Portugal a similar dish is called "Empadão", with two layers of mashed potatoes and a layer of minced beef in between.
See also
References
- ^ a b The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 1933
- ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Online
- ^ "The Chambers Dictionary", Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 1999
- ^ a b Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Eleventh Edition (Revised), Oxford University Press, 2006
- ^ An A to Z of Food and Drink by John Ayto, published by Oxford University Press, 2002
- ^ a b The Glutton's Glossary: A Dictionary of Food and Drink Terms. Routledge. 1990. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ a b Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton, 1861.
- ^ a b Cassell's New Universal Cookery Book by Lizzie Heritage published by Cassell and Company, 1894
- ^ The Constance Spry Cookery Book by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume, J M Dent & Sons, 1956
- ^ Chambers Dictionary, Ninth Edition, published by Chambers Harrap Publishing Ltd, 2003
- ^ "Delia Smith: Shepherds Pie with Crusted Leeks". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ "Shepherds' Pie and Cottage Pie". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ "Comments on what kind of lamb for Shepherd's Pie". Retrieved 2009-02-11..
- ^ "Comments on Low Fat Shepherd's Pie recipe". Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ "What is Cumberland Pie?". Retrieved 2010-12-06.
External links
Shepherd's pie recipe at Wikibooks
