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Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe | Hearty British Comfort Food Recipe

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4.1 from 15 reviews

This Shepherd’s Pie recipe is a hearty and comforting British/Irish classic made with a savory ground beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, it’s perfect for a family meal that warms and satisfies.

Ingredients

For the Potato Topping:

  • 1½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (675g)
  • 3¼ teaspoons salt, divided (26g)
  • ½ cup half-and-half (120mL)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (57g)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Meat Filling:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1½ pounds lean ground beef (675g)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup beef broth (160mL)
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup frozen green peas (170g)
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels (143g)
  • Chopped fresh parsley or chives for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the assembled shepherd’s pie.
  2. Cook Potatoes: In a medium pot, add peeled and cubed potatoes with 3 teaspoons of salt and cover with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium and cook until fork tender, about 15 to 18 minutes. Drain well.
  3. Mash Potatoes: Return drained potatoes to the pot. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Stir in half-and-half, butter, black pepper, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt until butter has melted and mixture is combined. Cover to keep warm.
  4. Prepare Casserole Dish: Lightly grease a 9×9-inch or 11×7-inch casserole dish and set aside.
  5. Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and diced carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes.
  6. Add Aromatics and Ground Beef: Stir in minced garlic and thyme, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add ground beef, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking apart meat with a spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
  7. Thicken Filling: Stir in flour until combined. Gradually pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, stirring constantly to blend and thicken the mixture.
  8. Add Vegetables: Stir in frozen peas and corn until evenly distributed in the filling. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
  9. Assemble Pie: Scoop the mashed potato topping over the meat filling and spread into an even layer.
  10. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until filling is bubbly and the potato topping begins to brown slightly.
  11. Cool and Garnish: Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives as desired.

Notes

  • You can pipe or create decorative ridges on the mashed potato topping for a beautiful presentation.
  • If preferred, cook and assemble the pie in a 12-inch oven-proof skillet and bake directly in it.
  • For extra richness, sprinkle grated Parmesan or shredded cheddar cheese over the potato topping during the last few minutes of baking.
  • Using a potato ricer instead of mashing will create a silkier, smoother potato topping.
  • To prevent the potato topping from sinking into the filling, allow the meat filling to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before layering.
  • Watch the pie closely near the end of baking to avoid burning the potato topping.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/classic-shepherds-pie-recipe-hearty-british-comfort-food-recipe/