British Venison Cottage Pie with Parsnip & Potato Mash

British Venison Cottage Pie with Parsnip & Potato Mash

Say hello to our tender British venison! Delicious in a simple cottage pie, enriched with aged balsamic vinegar and topped with sweet parsnip & potato mash. Serve with green beans and thyme-roasted carrots for extra veg.

High protein 1/3 daily fibre 4 of 5 a day Low sat fat

Serving size

Cook time: 40 mins
Cuisine: British
Food group: Beef
Allergens: Sulphites
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Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • Preheat the oven to 240C / fan 220C / gas mark 9
  • Line a baking tray with parchment paper
  • Bring a large saucepan filled with salted water to the boil
  • Pull out a large frying pan, a measuring jug, a sieve, a masher & a large baking dish

Make the mash & roast the carrots

  • Dice the potatoes and parsnips into 3cm chunks (peel optional), then add to the saucepan
  • Simmer for 15-18 mins, until soft, then drain. Return to the pan and mash with 1 tbsp oil and a pinch of salt and pepper
  • Cut the carrots into 2cm thick batons (peel optional). Strip the thyme from the stalks and finely chop
  • Place the carrots onto the lined baking tray and toss with half the thyme, 1/2 tbsp oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast for 20-25 mins, until soft and golden

Start the filling

  • Finely dice the onion. Finely chop or crush the garlic
  • Heat the large frying pan with 1/2 tbsp oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the venison and onion and cook for 5 mins, breaking up the mince with a wooden spoon, until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper
  • Stir in the garlic herb paste, fresh garlic, vinegar and remaining thyme and cook for 2 mins

Simmer simmer

  • Add the passata, stock powder and 200ml water to the pan. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 6-8 mins, until the venison is cooked through
  • Stir the peas into the venison in the final 2 mins
  • Trim the green beans. In the final 10 mins of roasting, add the green beans to the carrot tray, drizzle with 1 tsp oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for the remaining time, until tender

Build the pie

  • Transfer the venison mixture to the large baking dish. Top with the mash and spread evenly. Use a fork to scrape lines onto the topping
  • Bake for 8-10 mins, until the top is golden and crisp

Plate up

  • Serve the venison cottage pie onto plates, with the roasted carrots and green beans alongside

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