Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s Pie is a classic comfort food dish made with ground meat and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes and baked until golden. Traditionally, it uses lamb, but beef is often substituted (then sometimes called “Cottage Pie”).
Ingredients (Classic Version)
- 1 lb (450 g) ground lamb
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 cup peas
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste or sauce
- 1 cup beef or lamb broth
- 2 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups mashed potatoes (prepared separately)
- 2 tbsp butter (optional, for potato topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the filling:
- Sauté onion, carrots, and garlic until soft.
- Add ground lamb and cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste and flour.
- Add broth, peas, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thickened.
- Assemble the pie:
- Spread meat mixture in a baking dish.
- Top evenly with mashed potatoes.
- Dot with butter if desired.
- Bake:
- Bake 25–30 minutes, or until potato topping is golden.
- Serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped parsley.
Tips
- For extra flavor, add Worcestershire sauce or fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to the meat mixture.
- You can make a vegetarian version using lentils or mushrooms instead of meat.
- Leftovers taste great reheated and are often even more flavorful the next day.
💡 Shepherd’s Pie is a hearty, high-protein, and vegetable-packed meal, perfect for a family dinner or comfort food night.
If you want, I can also make a slow-cooker shepherd’s pie recipe or a one-spice Alzheimer’s-friendly version using turmeric.
