Shepherd's pie is a classic North American dish and was a favourite of mine growing up. It was a rare treat because it took some time to put together all the ingredients however the results were not only hearty and filling but made for amazing leftovers as well!
As I'm writing this... does Shepherd's Pie really need more of an introduction? Meat, potatoes and a couple of vegetables in the form of a layered pie - baked and served warm. Does it get any better than this with winter on the way? I didn't think so.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Total time: 1.5 hours
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, peeled and diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
1 pound ground beef
1 cup beef or chicken broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
1 cup frozen peas
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk
salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. In the meantime, heat oil in a large saute pan at medium-high heat. Once the oil is runny on the pan, add the onion, carrot and ground beef. Cook until the beef has been browned (10 minutes approx).
2. Drain the fat (use a turkey baster in reverse or scoop out using a spoon) and add the broth, tomato paste and thyme. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the juice thickens.
3. Add the peas and cook for 2 more minutes. Meanwhile, bring the potatoes to a boil in a pot of salted water and cook them for about 20 minutes. It helps to keep the pot covered to speed up this process.
4. Put the mixture of meat and veggie into a 11 x 9 baking dish and set aside. I prefer to use a glass baking dish.
5. When the potatoes are tender (a fork will slide into them without crunch), turn off the stove and drain them. Then, mash the potatoes in the pot with the butter, milk and salt until smooth.
6. Spread the mashed potatoes in an even layer over the meat mixture making sure to reach edges completely.
7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is golden. Let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.
This is definitely a classic dish of mine that I like to make over and over. It's very simple to make, great for a small dinner party (start with a light salad as an appetizer to start) and makes for great leftovers. Get creative with the design on top for bonus points!
PRO TIP: Sprinkle the top of the pie with some cheese approximately 10 minutes before the end of the bake time to add a cheesy crust to the top for a clash of texture and a surprise of flavour :)
Let me know how you like it in the comments below. Please subscribe to get notified of my new content and follow me on Instagram @lindakamaev for more posts!
Cheers and Bon Appetit!
Linda Kamaev