Irish Cottage Pie Recipe

1. Preheat your barbecue to 375°F (191°C), setting all burners to low. 
2. Prep all the veggies, dice the onion, peel and dice the carrots, mince or grate the garlic, and wash, peel, then chop the potatoes into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes. 
3. Toss the potatoes into a large pot and cover with cold water. Salt the water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook the potatoes for around 10 minutes or until a fork meets little resistance when you stab a chunk. Drain and keep warm. 
4. Using your infrared or range side burner, or the burner on your stovetop, cook the ground meat, seasoning with salt and pepper, until the liquid has evaporated and the fats have begun to caramelize the outside of the meat. Be sure to break the meat into small chunks. If there is a lot of grease, remove all but 1 to 2 tbsp. of it. If there isn’t a lot of grease, add oil or butter. 
5. Once the meat has begun to caramelize, and you have added or removed fat as needed, add in the onion, cooking until it starts to soften. Then, add the carrot, cooking until it begins to soften. Add the garlic, cooking for around a minute, before dusting with flour. Cook until the flour smell has dissipated. 
   Add the Worcestershire, herbs, peas, corn, and finally the stout and stock. Bring the mixture to a simmer for a little, until it begins to thicken. 
6. Once drained, place the potatoes over a medium-low heat and stir until any excess water has evaporated. Then remove from heat, and add the butter, 2/3 of the cheese, and mash. Once smooth, season the potatoes to taste with salt and pepper. Then stir in the egg yolks. 
7. Assemble the pie by putting the meat mixture into a Ceramic Casserole Dish or the Large Cast Iron Frying Pan. Top the meat mixture with the mashed potatoes, scuffing the potatoes to increase the surface area. Top this with the last of the cheese. 
8. Bake the Cottage Pie on the barbecue for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and things are starting to look crispy. 
9. Remove the Cottage Pie from the barbecue and allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Don’t forget a good Irish whiskey, some fresh bread, and more cheese. 

Why do we add egg yolks to the mashed potatoes? Including egg yolk in your mash will upgrade the flavor and texture of the final dish without adding cream or milk. The fattiness of the yolks emulsifies the fats and water in the potatoes for a better experience. You can substitute milk, cream, or sour cream if you prefer.

Comfort food at its finest. Quick and easy, this Irish Cottage Pie recipe is the perfect addition to your weeknight repertoire. Not quite the super traditional Shepherd’s Pie, but a milder version that even the pickiest of eaters should like. What is your favorite cold-weather comfort food? Can you make it on the BBQ? Share your grilled comfort food recipes, ideas, and photos on our social pages like Facebook and TikTok, using the hashtags #NapoleonEats and #NapoleonGrill.

Happy Grilling!