Shepherd's pie
Minced lamb in rich gravy under fluffy, golden mashed potato
Shepherd's pie comes from the sheep-farming hill country of northern England and Scotland, where Monday's pie once used up Sunday's roast lamb; with minced beef the same dish is called cottage pie. Minced lamb simmers with onion, carrot, a little tomato and Worcestershire sauce into a deep gravy, then hides under a thick layer of buttery mash that browns in the oven. A family supper all over Britain, it is served with peas or buttered cabbage. Chef's tip: rough up the top of the mash with a fork; the ridges catch the heat and turn crunchy.
- Total time
- 100 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the filling
For the mash
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Brown 1 ⅔ lb lamb mince in two batches for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up, until no pink remains and it is browned. Spoon off excess fat.
15 minStep 2: Lower to medium, add 1 onion, 2 carrots and 1 stick celery and cook for 8 minutes until soft. Stir in 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp plain flour and 2 tbsp tomato purée for 1 minute.
10 minStep 3: Add 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 ¾ cups lamb or beef stock, 1 tbsp fresh thyme and 1 tsp fresh rosemary. Simmer gently for 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick and glossy. Stir in 3 ½ oz frozen peas and season with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. A common mistake is a thin filling; it should be thick enough to hold the mash up, or the topping sinks.
25 minStep 4: Meanwhile boil 2 ⅝ lb floury potatoes in salted water for 18–20 minutes until very soft. Drain well and leave to steam dry for 2 minutes, then mash with 2 ⅛ oz butter, ½ cup whole milk and ½ tsp salt until smooth.
22 minStep 5: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Spoon the filling into a 2-litre baking dish, top with the mash, starting at the edges to seal, and fork the surface. Scatter with 1 ¾ oz mature cheddar.
5 minStep 6: Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbling at the edges and piping hot in the centre (167°F). Rest for 5 minutes before serving. If assembling ahead, cool quickly, refrigerate and bake for 40 minutes from cold.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does shepherd's pie take?
- About 100 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of carrots?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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