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serving of shepherds pie recipe with mashed potatoes on top, garnished with thyme. The filling consists of ground beef, peas, carrots, and corn, sitting in a rich gravy sauce.

shepherds pie recipe

This traditional Shepherd's Pie recipe is a hearty, comforting meal made with ground beef or lamb, vegetables, mashed potatoes, and a savory gravy. Perfect for cold nights, it can be customized to fit your taste and works well for meal prep.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 7 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: British, Irish
Calories: 400
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Filling:
  • 1 lb Ground beef or lamb - Traditional option: lamb; can substitute beef.
  • 1 Medium Yellow onion -Diced.
  • 2 Medium Carrots - Medium
  • 1 cup Frozen peas - Optional add at the end of cooking.
  • 3 Cloves Garlic cloves - Minced.
  • 2 tablespoon Tomato paste - For flavor depth.
  • 1 cup Beef broth - Can substitute with chicken or vegetable broth.
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce - Adds umami flavor.
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh thyme - Or use dried thyme.
  • 1 Bay leaf - Optional discard before serving.
  • To taste Salt and black pepper - For seasoning.
For the Potato Topping:
  • 2 lbs Russet potatoes - Can substitute Yukon gold potatoes.
  • ¼ cup Butter -For mashing.
  • ½ cup Milk or cream - To create a smooth mash.
  • To taste Salt - For seasoning.
  • 1 Egg yolk -For brushing on the potato top for a golden finish.
For Assembly:
  • ¼ cup Fresh parsley - Chopped for garnish.
  • ½ cup Shredded cheddar cheese - Optional sprinkle between meat and potatoes.

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet/Dutch Oven (For browning the meat and cooking the filling. )
  • 1 Large pot (For boiling potatoes. )
  • 1 Potato Masher/Ricer (For mashing the potatoes to a smooth consistency. )
  • 1 9x13 inch baking dish (For assembling and baking the Shepherd's Pie. )
  • 1 Wooden Spoon (For stirring the meat filling. )

Method
 

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef or lamb, breaking it up into crumbles. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  2. Cook until softened.
  3. Cook for 1 minute.
  4. Stir in tomato paste, coating the meat.
  5. Add fresh thyme and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, until thickened.
  6. Do this during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Remove the bay leaf after simmering.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 25gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

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