This cumberland pie is a healthier version of the traditional family recipe. It's made with lean beef mince and has a potato and cauliflower mash on top.
Cumberland pie is a delicious British dish.
It comes from the area of Cumbria in the North West of Britain where you'll also find the Lake District National Park.
It's a similar pie to Shepherd's pie or cottage pie.
However, Shepherd's pie is made with lamb, cottage pie with beef, whereas Cumberland pie can be make with either of those meats!
Traditional Cumberland pie is usually also topped with buttery mashed potatoes..
However, my cumberland pie version requires no butter being added to the mashed potatoes.
The sweetness and creaminess of the mash are already provided by the addition of the cauliflower!
This healthier cauliflower mash reduces the overall calorie and carb content.
Plus cauliflower has a lower GI rating (about 15) as opposed to potatoes (about 90) therefore filling you up for longer!
Then the mash is topped with a delicious crunchy topping of breadcrumbs and cheese. You'll love it!
This healthier cumberland pie was originally published in 2014 and was updated in 2022 with new pictures and a step by step guide. The recipe itself was not altered.
This quick healthy meal can be put together and cooked in 1 hour.
It makes enough for 4 to 6 people, so absolutely ideal if you want some for another day.
Cumberland Pie is one of my family staples, and one much loved too.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
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Ingredients
- White Potatoes
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Onion
- Minced Beef
- Beef Stock Cube
- Tinned Chopped Tomatoes
- Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese
- Wholemeal Breadcrumbs
- Chopped Parsley (optional garnish)
See recipe card for the actual quantites of ingredients for this recipe.
Step By Step Instructions
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this Cumberland pie recipe:
Step 1
- Preheat oven to 180C fan.
- Peel potatoes. Cut into chunks. Cover with cold water in a large saucepan.
Step 2
- Cut cauliflower florets into similar size chunks. Add them to the saucepan with potatoes.
Step 3
- Bring the potatoes and cauiflower to the boil. Simmer until the contents are soft. Set aside.
Step 4
- Meanwhile in a separate saucepan over a low heat brown the mince. Break it down with a wooden spatula. Once browned remove mince from the pan with slotted spoon and put it aside. Leaving beef fat in the saucepan.
Step 5
- Sweat the onions and carrots in the beef fat until soft. Stir in the mince and crumbled stock cube.
Step 6
- Stir in the tin of tomatoes. Cook for a couple of minutes. Season to taste with plenty of black pepper.
Step 7
- Spoon the mixture into an ovenproof dish.
Step 8
- Drain the potatoes and cauliflower. Mash together. Season to taste.
Step 9
- Spoon the mash over the mince mixture. Smooth out.
Step 10
- Mix grated cheese and breadcrumbs together. Scatter evenly over the top of the mash.
Step 11
- Bake in the oven until the topping is brown and crisp (cooking times may vary).
Step 12
- Garnish with chopped parsley (optional). Serve.
Substitutions
- White Potatoes - use a potato suitable for mashing like russet potatoes or maris piper potatoes.
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Onion - you could use shallots instead
- Minced Beef - you want to use beef mince that has some fat still in it. So I use 5% fat minced beef.
- Beef Stock Cube
- Tinned Chopped Tomatoes
- Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese - use a mature cheddar cheese for it's strong flavour.
- Wholemeal Breadcrumbs - I make my own breadcrumbs using stale wholemeal bread in a blender. You could use panko breadcrumbs though.
- Chopped Parsley (optional garnish)
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FAQ's
What To Serve With Cumberland Pie?
This cumberland pie is delicious served with green vegetables such as broccoli or cabbage.
How To Store?
Allow to cool completely. It can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
How To Freeze?
You can also freeze any leftovers. Just let the pie cool first before portioning it up and freezing it in individual containers.
How To Reheat?
Defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight. Can either be reheated in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or heated up in the oven for about 15 minutes at 180C Fan.
How To Make A Vegetarian Cumberland Pie?
Substitute the beef mince with Qourn or Soya Mince instead.
Can I Make Cumberland Pie In Advance?
You can make this pie 2-3 days in advance so that it's ready to cook in the oven. Follow to step 9. Then cover it and keep it in the fridge. Add the cheese and breadcrumbs before you bake it.
Equipment
For This Cumberland Pie Recipe You May Need….
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This means that if you click on it and then buy that product, I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
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Equipment
- Baking dish
- Saucepans
- Kitchen knives
- Kitchen scale
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring spoons
- Chopping board
- Peeler
- Slotted spoon
- Potato masher
This is the basic baking dish I use. As you can see it's relatively inexpensive and its perfect for oven baked recipes.
It's durable, resistant to breakage, dishwasher and freezer safe too!
Other Popular Family Casserole Recipes You Might Also Like
📋 Cumberland Pie Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g white potatoes suitable for mash e.g. Maris Pipers.
- 500 g cauliflower
- 225 g carrots diced
- 1 large onion diced
- 500 g less than 5% fat minced beef.
- 1 beef stock cube
- 1 can chopped peeled tomatoes
- Salt and Pepper to season
- 50 g reduced fat grated mature cheddar cheese
- 50 g wholemeal breadcrumbs
- Chopped fresh parsley optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C fan.
- Peel the potatoes, cut them into small chunks, and cover them with cold water in a saucepan.
- Cut cauliflower florets into similar size pieces and add them to the saucepan of potatoes.
- Bring the saucepan of potatoes and cauliflower to the boil, and then simmer until the contents are soft (15 – 20mins). Set aside.
- Meanwhile in another saucepan, over a medium heat gently brown the mince, breaking it down with a wooden spatula. Once the mince has browned remove it from the pan with slotted spoon and put it aside, leaving the beef fat in the saucepan.
- Sweat the onions and carrots in the beef fat for about 8 minutes until soft. Add back the browned mince and crumble in the stock cube, stir to mix the ingredients well.
- Once the stock cube has been fully dissolved, add the tin of tomatoes and cook gently for a couple of minutes. Season to taste.
- Spoon the mixture into an ovenproof dish and allow cooling.
- Meanwhile, drain the potatoes and cauliflower and mash together well with a potato masher and season to taste.
- Spoon the mash over the mince mixture until you have a roughly flat surface.
- Mix together the grated cheese and breadcrumbs and spread this mixture evenly over the top of the mash.
- Bake in the oven for 30 – 35 minutes until the topping is brown and crisp. Then allow to cool a little before serving.
- Garnish parsley (optional)
Nutrition
Nutrition Label
Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.
Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made this Cumberland pie recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
Jean Aitkin
Can't wait to try this recipe! Always loved Cumberland Pie but not one with a healthier twist to it. Looks amazing! Jean.
Neil
Thanks Jean. I've just fully updated this recipe. I expect you saw the update mentioned when I posted it on Facebook? Hope you get a chance to make it. Let me know what you think? 🙂