Shepherd’s Pie
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
- 500 ground beef or lamb
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or vegetable stock
- 1 tbs flour
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 150ml red wine
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 900g potatoes
- 2 tablespoon butter, melted
- 125ml milk
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Filling
In a large skillet or pan, heat a drizzle of oil over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion, diced carrots, and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the ground beef or lamb to the pan and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula.
Stir in the tomato paste, beef or vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
Step 2: Prepare the Mashed Potatoes
While the filling is simmering, prepare the mashed potatoes. Peel and dice the potatoes into chunks.
Place the diced potatoes in a large pot and cover them with water.
Bring the pot to a boil and cook the potatoes until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15-20 minutes.
Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3: Assemble and Bake
Preheat your oven to 190°C.
Transfer the meat filling to a baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Spoon the mashed potatoes over the meat filling, spreading them out with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
Use a fork to create a pattern on the mashed potatoes, which will help them get crispy and golden in the oven.
Drizzle the melted butter over the mashed potatoes.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the mashed potatoes are golden and the filling is bubbling.
Step 4: Serve
Remove the Cottage Pie from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.
Serve the Cottage Pie hot as a main course, accompanied by your favorite sides such as steamed vegetables or a salad.
Enjoy the comforting and delicious Cottage Pie, with its flavorful meat filling and creamy mashed potato topping.
This recipe can be easily customized by adding vegetables such as peas or corn to the filling or adding grated cheese on top before baking.