Regardless of what you call it, a shepherd’s pie is basically a casserole with a layer of cooked meat and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven until the the mashed potatoes are well browned. When you dig in you get a spoonful of mashed potatoes, some crispy bits, meat, and vegetables all in one bite. Enjoy these easy shepherd’s pie recipe for a pure comfort food dinner or St. Patrick’s Day favorite.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 Celery stalk, trimmed and finely chopped1
6 tablespoon Milk
2 tablespoon Tomato puree
2 tablespoon Vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon Sprigs of fresh thyme
1 tablespoon Freshly chopped parsley
25 g/1 oz Butter
450 g/1 lb Leftover roast lamb, finely chopped
150 ml/1/4 pint Red wine
150 ml/1/4 pint Lamb or vegetable stock
700 g/1/4 lb Potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Fresh herbs, to garnish
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Procedure:
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6, about 15 minutes before cooking. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion, carrot and celery. Cook over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes until softened and starting to brown.
Add the thyme and cook briefly, then add the cooked lamb, wine, stock and tomato purée. Season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes until reduced and thickened. Remove from the heat to cool slightly and season again.
Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in plenty of salted water for 12-15 minutes until tender. Drain and return to the saucepan over a low heat to dry out. Remove from the heat and add the butter, milk and parsley. Mash until creamy, adding a little more milk, if necessary. Adjust the seasoning.
Transfer the lamb mixture to a shallow ovenproof dish. Spoon the mash over the filling and spread evenly to cover completely. Fork the surface, place on a baking sheet, then cook in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the potato topping is browned and the filling is piping hot. Garnish and serve.
You’ll like the convenience of this comforting dish. This shepherd’s pie recipe is perfect for using up leftovers and its a real crowd pleaser.
Photo by [puamelia] 