Cottage Pie (Bermuda)

Bermuda's Cottage Pie is a great one dish option for dinner. It is also known as Sheppard's Pie to locals. Its not uncommon to find it on menus of various restaurants around the island specializing in traditional Bermudian cuisine. Similar to the British idea of dinner pies with the addition of pumpkin and spinach.

1 lb ground lamb
1 Bermuda onion
1 green bell pepper
2 cups tomato sauce
½ bag potatoes
½ cup pumpkin, mashed
1 clove garlic
1 bag fresh spinach
½ cup Monterey Jack cheese
½ cup cheddar cheese
½ cup queso quesadilla
½ cup asadero cheese
black pepper, freshly ground
thyme
italian seasonings

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4).

Coarsely chop onion, green pepper and clove garlic. Fry vegetables and spinach in lightly oiled frying pan until they are translucent. Next add the ground lamb and season with black pepper, thyme etc. When lamb is brown add tomato sauce and stir. Let the sauce mixture simmer for 10 minutes.

Peel, cube and boil potatoes and pumpkin. Mash potatoes accordingly. Mash pumpkin separately.

Finally layer your baking dish with meat mixture on the bottom, mashed potatoes, mashed pumpkin and grated cheese. Alternate layers depending on baking dish size. Sprinkle top of pie with the remaining grated cheese.

Bake for 1 hour.