Tom's big moment

Giving up alcohol is just one thing that has changed in Kerridge’s life since his first solo cookery series, Proper Pub Food, was aired last year.

A new cookery book, Best Ever Dishes, an accompanying BBC Two series, a bustling pub, The Hand And Flowers in Marlow, and even an imposter pretending to be him on Twitter – it’s fair to say that Kerridge is having a bit of a moment right now.

His new book which sees him adding twists on classic dishes like tomato soups and rice puddings, is eager to encourage his fans to head to the kitchen and have a go.

“I don’t want it to be a coffee table book, I want it to be cooked from, covered in grease and flour and battered.”

Cottage Pie with Blue Cheese Mash (Serves 4-6)
500g braising steak
50g plain flour Vegetable oil, for cooking
700ml beef stock
300ml dark ale
2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
500g minced beef
2 onions, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
2 celery sticks, tough strings removed, finely diced
2tbsp curry powder Splashes of Worcestershire sauce
Salt and black pepper

For the mash topping:
6 floury potatoes (King Edward or Maris Piper), 1.2kg, peeled and diced
150ml milk
50g butter
3/4tbsp prepared English mustard
150g blue cheese grated
1tsp paprika
Salt and black pepper

Preheat the oven to 150C/Gas Mark 2. Cut the braising steak into 2cm dice, dust in flour and shake off the excess. Warm a large frying pan over a medium-high heat, add a little oil and fry the braising steak until it gets a deep, rich colour all over. Drain the steak on some kitchen paper and transfer to a casserole.

Put the frying pan back on the heat and deglaze it with the stock and ale, scraping up any tasty brown bits from the bottom, then pour the liquid over the beef in the casserole. Add the star anise and cinnamon stick and bring to the boil. Put the lid on and braise slowly in the oven for two and a half to three hours, until the beef is tender. Leave to cool.

When cool, remove the cooked steak from the casserole with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl in the fridge until needed. Reserve the remaining cooking liquor.

Wipe out the casserole, then place it over a medium-high heat and pour in a thin layer of vegetable oil. Add the minced beef and cook, stirring constantly, until it’s thoroughly browned. The beef shouldn’t be grey, you want it to be dry, roasted and crumbly, the colour of the outside of a beef burger; this should take about 10-12 minutes. Drain in a colander to get rid of any fat, and set aside.

Return the casserole to the hob, warm a little more oil over a medium heat, and add the diced vegetables. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring from time to time, until they soften. Add the curry powder and stir, making sure the vegetables are thoroughly coated in the spice.

Add the drained minced beef and the reserved braising liquid and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer and reduce the stock until it’s nice and thick. Add a few splashes of Worcestershire sauce and season. Leave to cool for 20 minutes.

When the minced beef has cooled a little, stir in the chilled, braised beef and mix thoroughly, but try not to break up the beef too much. Transfer to a large pie dish and chill in the fridge for at least one hour.

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the potatoes for 14-15 minutes or until soft. Drain in a colander and leave to steam and air dry a little.

Meanwhile, warm the milk and butter in a small saucepan. Either put the cooked potato through a potato ricer into a bowl, or mash thoroughly with a hand masher. Beat in the hot milk and butter with a wooden spoon to form a semi-firm mashed potato. Mix in the mustard and season.

Take the chilled beef mixture from the fridge and pipe the mash on top, or spread it and make little peaks with a fork. Sprinkle the blue cheese on top and dust with the paprika.

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4. Put the cottage pie on to a baking tray, stick it in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and place under a hot grill, if needed, just to glaze the blue cheese.