Here’s a classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe—comfort food at its finest, with a savory meat filling and creamy mashed potato topping. 🥔🥩
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the Meat Filling
- 500g (1 lb) ground lamb (or beef for Cottage Pie)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or lamb stock
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Mashed Potato Topping
- 4–5 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 3 tbsp butter
- ½ cup milk (or cream for richer taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: ¼ cup grated cheese for topping
Instructions
1. Prepare Mashed Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water until tender (about 15–20 minutes).
- Drain, mash with butter and milk until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Cook Meat Filling
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté onion, carrots, and celery until softened (5–6 minutes).
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add ground lamb, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, stock, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Stir in frozen peas, remove from heat.
3. Assemble Shepherd’s Pie
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread meat filling evenly in a baking dish.
- Top with mashed potatoes, smoothing with a spatula.
- Optional: Sprinkle grated cheese on top.
4. Bake
- Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Tips & Variations
- For extra flavor, add a splash of red wine to the meat filling while simmering.
- Use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes for a twist.
- Top mashed potatoes with a few small pats of butter for a crispier finish.
💡 Shepherd’s Pie is perfect for meal prep—it tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together.
If you want, I can give a quick 30-minute version that uses pre-cooked meat and instant mashed potatoes but still tastes authentic and hearty.
Do you want me to do that?
