Shepherd’s Pie is a classic comfort dish made with minced lamb, vegetables, and mashed potatoes baked on top. (If made with beef, it’s often called cottage pie.)
🥧 Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
🧾 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the filling
- 1 lb (450 g) ground lamb
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or lamb broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme or rosemary
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the mashed potato topping
- 2 lbs (900 g) potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup milk
- Salt to taste
- Optional: ½ cup shredded cheese for topping
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water for 15–20 minutes until tender.
- Drain and mash with butter, milk, and salt until smooth.
- Set aside.
2️⃣ Cook the Filling
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Add garlic and ground lamb; cook until browned.
- Stir in carrots, tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in peas.
3️⃣ Assemble
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spread the meat mixture in a baking dish.
- Spoon mashed potatoes evenly on top.
- Use a fork to create texture on the surface.
4️⃣ Bake
- Bake 20–25 minutes until the top is lightly golden.
- Optional: Broil for 3–5 minutes for a crisp top.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve with:
- Green salad
- Steamed broccoli or green beans
- Crusty bread
💡 Tips
- Add corn or mushrooms for extra vegetables.
- For extra flavor, mix Parmesan cheese into the mashed potatoes.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day.
If you want, I can also show you a very quick 30-minute shepherd’s pie version (great for busy days).
