Traditional Lancashire Hotpot

How to make a true British Lancashire Hotpot, With tender Lamb or beef & golden Potatoes. The Ultimate Comfort Food, easy step by step instructions from start to finish.

Ingredients

Method

  • The Main Hotpot Ingredients:
  • 700g (1½lb) Lamb or Beef (large chunks)
  • 20g (2tbsp) Plain flour
  • 30g Beef Dripping or 1½ tbsp Vegetable oil
  • 28g (1oz) Butter
  • 2 Onions (medium size sliced)
  • 200g (7oz) Carrots (sliced)
  • 430ml (¾Pt) Lamb or Beef stock
  • 1tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1or 2 Bay leaves
  • 1tsp Fresh Thyme leaves
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • For the potato topping:
  • 900 (2lb) Potatoes (after peeling)
  • 28g (1oz) Butter (melted)
  • Salt and Black pepper
  • Add the flour to the meat and season with salt n pepper, toss it until the meat has an even coat of the seasoned flour.
  • Heat the oil or dripping in a large frying pan over medium high heat.
  • Brown the meat pieces in two or three batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan.
  • You don’t need to cook it through we’re just building colour and flavour.
  • Transfer the browned meat to your casserole or hotpot dish.
  • Turn the heat down slightly, and in the same pan add the butter and then the onions and carrots.
  • Cook gently for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the onions begin to soften, then add them to the casserole dish on top of the meat.
  • Pour the stock, herbs and Worcestershire sauce into the same pan and scrape all those lovely, browned bits from the bottom of the pan, bring it to a simmer then add it to the casserole dish, your stock should be level with the top of the vegetables.
  • Peel the potatoes and cut them into slices about 5 to 6mm / ¼in thick.
  • Preheat your oven to 170°C / 340°F / Gas mark 3.
  • Arrange the potato slices over the top of your meat n veg in overlapping layers, starting around the outside and working towards the centre, then season lightly with salt n black pepper.
  • Cover the dish with baking foil and get the lid on and bake for 1½ hours.
  • Once the times up, get it on the cooker top, remove the lid and foil, brush the top layer of potatoes with the melted butter
  • increase the oven temperature to 200°C / 390°F / Gas mark 6.
  • Get it back into the oven uncovered for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove and serve it straight from the oven with crusty bread. 
  • Enjoy.

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