Shepherd’s pie

Ah yes 😌 Shepherd’s Pie—classic comfort food with a savory meat filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Here’s a traditional version (using lamb for authenticity) and tips for perfection.

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🥧 Classic Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients (4–6 servings)

Mashed Potato Topping

• 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 tbsp butter
• ½ cup milk (or cream for richer topping)
• Salt & pepper, to taste

Meat Filling

• 1 lb ground lamb (can substitute beef for “Cottage Pie”)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ cup beef or lamb broth
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Make mashed potatoes
   • Boil potatoes until tender (~15 min).
   • Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
2. Cook meat filling
   • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
   • Sauté onions until soft, then add garlic and cook 30 sec.
   • Add ground lamb, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned.
   • Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire, broth, thyme, and frozen peas/carrots. Simmer 5–7 min until thickened slightly.
3. Assemble
   • Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
   • Spread meat mixture evenly in a baking dish.
   • Top with mashed potatoes, smoothing with a spatula. Optional: use fork to create texture for browning.
4. Bake
   • Bake 20–25 min until potatoes are golden and edges bubbly.
5. Serve
   • Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

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Pro Tips

• For extra creamy topping, add cream cheese or sour cream to mashed potatoes.
• Make ahead: Prepare meat filling in advance; top with mashed potatoes before baking.
• Crispier top: Broil 2–3 min at the end for golden edges.
• Substitute lamb with beef for a Cottage Pie.

I can also give you a slow cooker Shepherd’s Pie, a cheesy version, or a low-carb mashed cauliflower topping version 😏.

Do you want one of those variations?