Description
Hearty shepherd’s pie originates from United Kingdom’s pastoral culinary traditions. Home cooks can quickly prepare this comforting meat and potato casserole you’ll savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground lamb or beef
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 cup (150 grams) frozen peas
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics in olive oil over medium heat until translucent, releasing their fragrant essence.
- Introduce ground meat, browning thoroughly and eliminating excess grease to enhance flavor concentration.
- Incorporate diced carrots, allowing them to soften and infuse the mixture with subtle sweetness.
- Enhance the filling with aromatic herbs, robust Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste, creating a deeply layered flavor profile.
- Deglaze the skillet with beef broth, allowing the liquid to reduce and thicken, creating a rich, cohesive sauce.
- Fold in frozen peas for a burst of color and additional texture, then set the meat mixture aside.
- Simmer potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, ensuring complete drainage to prevent watery mashed potatoes.
- Transform boiled potatoes into a silky, luxurious topping by mashing with dairy ingredients until ultra-smooth.
- Optional: Integrate grated cheddar for an extra layer of indulgent flavor.
- Preheat oven to 400F, preparing for the final transformative stage of the dish.
- Construct the pie by spreading the savory meat mixture as a robust foundation in a baking dish.
- Carefully layer the creamy mashed potatoes on top, using a fork to create decorative peaks that will crisp and brown beautifully.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, allowing the top to develop a golden, crispy exterior while the filling bubbles underneath.
Notes
- Swap ground lamb for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a lighter or vegetarian version of the dish.
- Create a richer potato topping by adding roasted garlic or cream cheese for extra depth of flavor.
- Enhance the meat filling’s complexity by incorporating red wine or a splash of balsamic vinegar during simmering.
- Freeze individual portions for quick future meals, ensuring they’re tightly wrapped to prevent freezer burn.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg