Got it—you just said Shepherd’s pie, so I’ll give a full overview.
Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional British dish made with minced meat (usually lamb, hence “shepherd”), vegetables, and topped with mashed potatoes. When made with beef, it’s technically called cottage pie, though people often use the names interchangeably.
Classic Ingredients:
- Meat: Ground lamb (or beef for cottage pie)
- Vegetables: Onion, carrots, peas, sometimes corn
- Sauce: Often a gravy or a thickened meat broth
- Topping: Creamy mashed potatoes, sometimes sprinkled with cheese
Basic Preparation:
- Cook the filling: Sauté meat and vegetables, season, and add gravy.
- Mash the potatoes: Boil, mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble: Layer meat mixture in a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes.
- Bake: Around 375°F (190°C) until the top is golden and slightly crispy.
Optional twists include adding garlic to the potatoes, herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even a layer of cheese on top.
If you want, I can give you a quick, foolproof recipe for shepherd’s pie that’s rich, hearty, and about 45 minutes from start to finish.
Do you want me to do that?
