Description
Hearty classic shepherds pie brings comfort straight from Irish kitchens, blending ground lamb, savory vegetables, and creamy mashed potato topping. Rich layers of flavor invite warm gatherings where home cooking creates delicious memories you’ll cherish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 lb (450g) ground lamb (or beef for Cottage Pie)
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup frozen peas
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or lamb stock
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mashed Potato Topping:
- 2 lbs (900g) potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ½ cup milk or cream
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Submerge potatoes in a generously salted water bath, allowing them to tenderize for approximately 15-20 minutes until fork-piercing becomes effortless.
- Drain potatoes thoroughly and transform them into a silky mash, incorporating milk, butter, Parmesan, salt, and pepper until luxuriously smooth. Reserve for later assembly.
- Activate a large skillet with olive oil over medium flame, introducing diced onions, carrots, and celery to sauté until they soften and become translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and allow its aromatic essence to permeate the vegetable medley for roughly one minute.
- Introduce ground lamb into the skillet, methodically fragmenting the meat and allowing it to caramelize into a rich, golden-brown hue. Eliminate any excessive rendered fat if necessary.
- Integrate tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, Worcestershire sauce, and stock, creating a harmonious flavor profile. Reduce heat and permit the mixture to gently simmer and concentrate for 10 minutes.
- Fold in verdant green peas and calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper to elevate taste complexity.
- Preheat the oven to a robust 400°F (200°C), preparing for the final transformation.
- Transfer the savory lamb mixture into a baking vessel, ensuring an even distribution across the surface.
- Meticulously cascade mashed potatoes over the filling, sculpting an elegant landscape with a spatula and creating textural ridges using a fork to encourage crispy edges.
- Position the assembled pie within the heated oven, allowing it to bake for 20-25 minutes until the potato crown achieves a golden, slightly crisp complexion.
- Permit the pie a brief 5-minute respite after emerging from the oven, then serve alongside a crisp green salad or steamed vegetables for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Swap ground lamb for ground beef to create a cottage pie, offering a budget-friendly alternative that maintains classic flavor profiles.
- Use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes for a nutrient-dense twist, adding extra vitamins and a slightly sweeter taste to the dish.
- Enhance vegetable texture by finely dicing carrots and celery to ensure even cooking and better distribution throughout the meat mixture.
- Consider adding a splash of red wine or beef broth during simmering to deepen the umami flavors and create a more complex sauce base.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg