Shepherd's Pie

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. 

Check out these recipes 

Here are some more recipes for you to enjoy! If you like them don’t forget to rate and leave a comment. 

• Chicken Pot Pie
• Potato & Cauliflower Gratin
• Chicken Parmesan
• Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Spaghetti Bolognese

If you have any recipe suggestions, please do not hesitate to ask me. A great way to stay in contact with me is through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Don’t forget to tag me @cookwithnabeela in your recipe photos! 

Shepherd’s Pie

by Nabeela Kauser

Shepherds pie is flavourful, hearty, and the perfect dinner to share with the family. Filled with lots of veggies and tender ground lamb then topped with the creamiest mashed potatoes.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine British, Western

Servings 6

Calories 431 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 500 g Minced Meat Lamb
• ▢ 1 Onion Finely chopped
• ▢ 2 Carrots Peeled, finely chopped
• ▢ 2 cloves Garlic Minced
• ▢ 2 tbsp Tomato Puree
• ▢ 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• ▢ 1 tsp Thyme Dried
• ▢ 500 ml Beef Stock
• ▢ 750 g Potatoes Peeled, chopped into chunks
• ▢ 50 g Butter Unsalted
• ▢ 50 ml Milk
• ▢ Salt To taste
• ▢ Black Pepper To taste

Instructions

• Begin by preheating the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6.
• Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the minced lamb. Brown it for 5-6 minutes while using a wooden spoon to break up any large lumps.
• Once browned, add the chopped onion and carrots to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until they are softened.
• Next, add minced garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and dried thyme to the pan, and cook for 2-3 minutes until it becomes fragrant.
• After that, pour in beef stock and bring it to a simmer. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the mixture thickens, and the vegetables become tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• While the meat mixture is cooking, chop potatoes and boil them in a pot of salted water for 15-20 minutes until they become tender. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
• Add unsalted butter and milk to the pot and mash the potatoes until they become smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer the meat mixture to a large baking dish and spread the mashed potatoes on top.
• Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the mashed potatoes turn golden brown, and the filling becomes hot and bubbly.
• Finally, serve the Shepherd’s Pie hot with your preferred vegetables.

Notes

• If you’re a vegetarian, you can replace the minced lamb with a meatless ground beef substitute or lentils.
• You can save time by using leftover mashed potatoes.

Nutritional facts:

The provision of nutritional information is done so merely as a courtesy and should not be taken as a guarantee.

Nutrition

Calories: 431kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 19gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 371mgPotassium: 1049mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 3670IUVitamin C: 29mgVitamin D: 0.2µgCalcium: 69mgIron: 3mg

Keyword Beef, Comfort Food, Food, Lamb, Meat, Minced Meat, Recipe

Tried this recipe?Mention @CookwithNabeela or tag #CookwithNabeela!