Shepherd’s Pie – A Favorite Irish Comfort Food

Shepherd’s pie is a rustic dish originally from the UK, and it’s the perfect type of comfort food to keep on hand in the freezer. While it’s traditionally made with ground lamb this recipe is an American version with lamb or beef based on your preference.

How to make Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

Filling

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb or beef
• 1 large carrot, grated
• 1 large onion, grated
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/3 cup red wine

The Mash

• 1 1/2 pounds golden potatoes
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 3 1/2 tablespoons butter
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Dice the garlic. Separate the herbs from the stems. Separate the egg yolks. Peel and slice the potatoes into even pieces. Open wine. Open the tomato paste.
2. Cook the Potatoes. This part is easy as pie (no pun intended). Just boil some water, throw some salt and potatoes in, and set a timer for 15 minutes. Start on the filling while the potatoes are boiling.
3. Cooking the Filling – preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pour olive oil into a hot, rather large pan, and then add meat. Stir meat as if your life depends on it for a few minutes so it’s nice and brown, and broken into very small pieces.
4. Add rosemary, thyme, and garlic. Then stir.
5. Quickly add carrot and onion. Stir a little longer. The idea at this point is to get everything to a minced consistency.
6. Add Worcestershire sauce; stir. Add tomato puree; stir. Add red wine; stir.
7. Let it sweat down a minute or two.
8. Upon the timer going off for the potatoes, take the potatoes out and strain the water off. Put potatoes back into the pan, or into a medium mixing bowl. Mash the potatoes with the heavy cream, butter, salt, pepper, and egg yolks.
9. Scoop the meat mixture into a deep casserole or other oven-safe dish.
10. Then spoon the mash over the top. Spread the mash over the top of the mix with the bottom of a spoon. Then sprinkle a generous portion of Parmesan cheese over the top. Poke the top with a fork several times to give it a peaked look.
11. Bake shepherd’s pie for 20–25 minutes, until mashed potatoes are golden brown and crispy on top. Serve and enjoy!