🥧 Shepherd’s Pie (Classic Comfort Food)
A hearty dish of savory minced meat and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes, then baked until golden.
Traditionally, Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb. If using beef, it’s technically called Cottage Pie.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the filling:
- 1 lb (450g) ground lamb (or beef)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup carrots (diced)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef or lamb broth
- 1 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
- 1 tsp dried thyme or rosemary
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the mashed potato topping:
- 2 lbs (900g) potatoes, peeled & chopped
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup warm milk
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup shredded cheddar (optional, for topping)
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Mashed Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water for 15–20 minutes until fork-tender.
- Drain and mash with butter and warm milk.
- Season with salt. Set aside.
2️⃣ Prepare the Filling
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook onion and carrots for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add ground lamb and cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Sprinkle flour (if using), stir well.
- Add broth and simmer 5–8 minutes until thickened.
- Stir in peas.
3️⃣ Assemble & Bake
- Spread meat mixture into a baking dish.
- Spoon mashed potatoes on top and smooth evenly.
- Use a fork to create texture on top (helps browning).
- Sprinkle cheese if desired.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Broil 2–3 minutes for extra browning (optional).
🔥 Tips for Best Flavor
- Add a splash of red wine when simmering the meat.
- Mix an egg yolk into mashed potatoes for extra richness.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving for cleaner slices.
If you’d like, I can give you:
- A quick 30-minute version
- A traditional Irish-style version
- A healthy / low-carb version
- A vegetarian lentil shepherd’s pie 🌱
