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Cumberland Pie

Cumberland Pie

A weekend British dinner made with beef. Ready in about 4 hours 35 minutes. Difficulty: more effort.

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Ingredients

How many people?

− 3 people +

Changed from 4 to 3 people · Back to 4

Main ingredient

  • 1.3 lb feather blade beef

Fresh & other

  • 2 celery
  • 1 onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 thyme Shopping tip: Fresh sprigs or dried both work (1 tsp dried = 1 tbsp fresh).
  • 2 ¼ tsp butter
  • 1 ½ tbsp flour
  • 1 ½ tbsp tomato paste Shopping tip: Tomato paste (UK: tomato purée), in a small can or tube.
  • 1.3 lb potatoes
  • ⅔ oz mature cheddar
  • ⅔ oz parmesan cheese

Sauces & oils

  • 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ tbsp worcestershire sauce
Spices & seasonings (2): bay leaves, beef bouillon cubes
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes Shopping tip: Bouillon cubes (UK: stock cubes).

How to make it

Steps in our own plain words.

  1. Turn the oven on to 325°F (275°F for a fan oven).

  2. 1 thyme sprig, bay, carrots, onion and Soften the celery in a casserole using 2 ¼ tsp oil plus the butter for 10 mins.

  3. Mix in your flour, followed by your purée, Worcestershire sauce and stock cubes.

  4. Gradually stir in 2 ½ cups hot water.

  5. Tip in the beef.

  6. Bring to a gentle simmer.

  7. Cover.

  8. Heat in oven for 2 hrs 30 mins, uncover.

  9. Heat for 30 mins -1 hr more till the meat is tender and sauce thickened.

  10. While that cooks, heat potatoes in a pan of boiling water till they’re not done but around ¾ of the way there.

  11. Move meat to a baking dish.

  12. Slice spuds into ½ inch thick rounds and toss with thyme leaves, the remaining oil and seasoning.

  13. Layer on your beef, scattering using the cheese as you layer.

  14. Cover.

  15. Chill your pie for 1 day, or freeze.

  16. Keep going for up to 3 months, increase oven.

  17. Do it to 400°F (350°F for a fan oven).

  18. Cook in the oven for 30-40 mins till golden plus crispy, plus sauce bubbling if your dish went in cold.

  19. Serve with peas.

On the side: Green salad

A side we added to round out the meal. It is not part of the original recipe.

How to make it (10 min)
  1. Rinse the salad greens. Slice the cucumber.
  2. Put it all in a bowl and toss with the dressing just before eating.

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Recipe from TheMealDB, adapted from the original. Steps rewritten in our own words. Times are estimates.