Ah, Shepherd’s Pie—a classic comfort food! Traditionally, it’s made with ground lamb (if using beef, it’s technically called “Cottage Pie”), topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden. Here’s a straightforward, tasty version:
Shepherd’s Pie
Serves: 4–6
Ingredients:
For the filling:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground lamb or beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or fresh)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
For the mashed potato topping:
- 2 lbs (900 g) potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/4–1/2 cup milk (adjust for creaminess)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: shredded cheese for topping
Instructions:
- Cook the potatoes:
- Boil potatoes in salted water until tender (15–20 min).
- Drain, mash with butter and milk, season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Make the filling:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Cook onions, carrots, and garlic until softened.
- Add ground lamb (or beef), breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and broth. Simmer 5–10 min until slightly thickened.
- Stir in frozen peas at the end. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Assemble the pie:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spread meat and vegetable filling in a baking dish.
- Top evenly with mashed potatoes.
- Optional: Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
- Bake:
- Bake 20–25 min, until the top is lightly golden.
- Optional: Broil 2–3 minutes at the end for a crispier top.
- Serve:
- Let it rest 5 minutes before serving.
💡 Tips:
- For extra flavor, sauté the carrots and onions in a little butter before adding meat.
- You can add a splash of cream or sour cream to mashed potatoes for extra richness.
- Leftovers taste amazing the next day—just reheat in the oven.
If you want, I can also give a quick one-pan Shepherd’s Pie version that’s faster but still creamy and hearty.
Do you want me to do that?
