Shepherd’s pie is one of the top British comfort foods there is. Perfect for a cold winter evening, this delicious dish is made with minced lamb or mutton.
Now, if you’ve been following my food blog for a while, you would know that I absolutely adore spices. That’s the Pakistani in me speaking, I supposed.
But there’s something about British food that I absolutely love, even with its complete disregard for the use of spices.
This shepherd’s pie recipe uses only black pepper as the sole spice in this dish, but the flavour of this dish is still amazing.
I find that shepherd’s pie is a great way to use up leftover minced meat and mashed potato.
There have been occasions when I have had some leftover keema matar and I have transformed it into this delicious dish.
However, if you were to make this dish completely from scratch, the first step of this recipe involves browning the meat. This is very important as it helps the dish to develop a deeper flavour and gives the dish a richer colour.
As I mentioned earlier, there are minimal spices used in this recipe. Because of this, it is important that you season the meat very generously with salt and black pepper.
I also like to add some dried thyme, but this can easily be substituted with rosemary, basil, or even a sprinkle of mixed herbs. Use whichever dried herb you have to hand.
For the mashed potato topping, stick to using starchy potatoes like Russet potatoes as they will give you the creamiest and fluffiest mashed potatoes.
Be generous with the amount of butter and milk you use. You can’t get too creamy with mashed potatoes. For even creamier mashed potatoes switch the milk with cream.
For added flavour, sometimes I like to mix in grated cheese or herbs such as chives or parsley.
While mashed potatoes are traditional for the topping of shepherd’s pie, there are other options like sweet potato mash, cauliflower mash, or even a layer of puff pastry for a fun twist on the classic dish.
Shepherd’s pie is the perfect excuse to sneak vegetables into your and your kids’ diets for added flavour and nutrition. Good choices include carrots, peas, and onions, along with so many more.
Vegetables give a lot of depth, colour, and flavour to any dish, so try different combinations depending on what you have available for a delicious dinner.
As with many beef recipes, let the shepherd’s pie rest for a few minutes after removing it from the oven. This allows the flavours to mix and the liquids to redistribute, making it easier to tuck into.
Depending on what vegetables you added to the dish and how much you may not even need any side dishes.
However, personally, I like to serve shepherd’s pie with some bread and steamed green beans.
A delicious and satisfying shepherd’s pie to warm you up on even the coldest of days.
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Hi, I’m Nabeela and I love to cook! I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family-friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.
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