🥧 Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is a classic comfort dish made with seasoned ground meat and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes, then baked until golden.
Traditionally, “Shepherd’s pie” uses lamb. If made with beef, it’s technically called “Cottage Pie.”
📝 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the Meat Filling:
- 1 lb ground lamb (or beef)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas & carrots
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef or lamb broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Mashed Potato Topping:
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup milk (warm)
- Salt to taste
- Optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Mashed Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (15–20 minutes).
- Drain and mash with butter, warm milk, and salt.
- Set aside.
2️⃣ Cook the Filling
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Heat olive oil in a skillet.
- Sauté onion 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add ground meat and cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Add broth and simmer 5–8 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in peas & carrots.
3️⃣ Assemble
- Spread meat mixture in a baking dish.
- Spoon mashed potatoes on top and spread evenly.
- Use a fork to create texture on top (helps browning).
- Optional: Sprinkle cheese on top.
4️⃣ Bake
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Broil 2–3 minutes for a crispy top if desired.
✨ Variations
- Add corn for a sweeter flavor.
- Mix mashed potatoes with sour cream for extra creaminess.
- Use sweet potatoes for a twist.
- Make it healthier with cauliflower mash.
💡 Make-Ahead Tip
Assemble in advance and refrigerate up to 2 days. Bake when ready (add 5–10 extra minutes if cold).
If you’d like, I can also give you:
- A slow cooker version
- A healthy low-carb version
- Or a traditional Irish-style recipe
Just tell me which one you prefer 🥔🥩
