Shepherd’s Pie is one of my absolute favorite comfort foods. It is traditionally made with ground lamb, but can be made with any type of ground meat including chicken, beef or turkey. Just adjust the seasonings as lamb will pack more flavor than any other type of meat.
In my recipe, potatoes are cooked until fork tender and mashed with butter, cream, garlic and finished with the addition of salt to brighten the flavors. Cheese can also be added to the mashed potatoes if your family loves cheese. The lamb comes together quickly and fresh seasonings and dried spices are added to amplify the flavor.
Both the creamy mashed potatoes and savory lamb are layered in a baking dish and placed in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. You can go for a multi layered dish but I prefer the simplicity of just one layer each.
For your holiday table you can certainly double the mashed potatoes and add a layer on the top and the bottom. Just a delicious thought!
This combination is dreamy and creamy with loads of flavor in each bite. I guarantee that this dish will be well loved by your family and friends.
Give it a try today!
Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 2 lbs potatoes
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 egg whisked
- 1 cup heavy cream warm (or evaporated or whole milk)
- 6 tbs butter room temp
- Salt to taste
- 4 tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion Chopped
- 2 lbs ground lamb
- 1 tbs green seasoning
- 1 celery chopped
- 1 scallion chopped
- 1 tbs minced garlic
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- Hot Pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp onion flakes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper
- 8 ozs peas and carrots
- 4 tbs tomato paste optional
Instructions
- Peel, rinse, quarter and place potatoes in a medium pot, cover with water and add 1 tbs salt and garlic. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium high and cook until fork glides easily through the potato. If undercooked there will be lumps in the mashed potato so it is important to get this right. Drain.
- Place back into the pot it was cooked in. Immediately add boiled garlic, egg and butter and whisk and mash with a fork to combine. Gradually add warm cream and continue to whisk until creamy, light and fluffy. You can also use a handheld mixer to whisk.
- Add salt to taste. Set aside
- In a medium heavy bottomed pot, heat oil. Add onion and cook until the edges are golden brown.
- Add meat and using a wooden spoon, break up any chunks. Cook the ground meat until it’s no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add in the remaining ingredients, green seasoning, celery, scallion, garlic, bell, pepper, hot pepper, bayleaf. Mix well to combine, cleaning down the sides of the pot.
- Stir in salt, black pepper, granulated onion, oregano and pepper flakes. Taste and adjust as necessary. Pour in the peas and carrots, stir well to combine. Cover and cook for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- To assemble, place the meat onto the bottom of a baking dish 7 x 11. Spread the mashed potato on top of the cooked lamb. Place in a preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Popular Curry Chicken Recipes
Meet Ria!
A Trinidadian culinary connoisseur sharing recipes from Trinidad and the Caribbean with a modern twist.