Shepherd’s Pie

This was delicious! Why haven’t I ever made this simple, hearty, and satifying dish?!

This recipe will definitely be in our regular rotation — and I find it amusing and fitting that it was Amy’s first shepherd’s pie — and I chose her recipe to follow! LOL

Very tasty, and super-fast to pull together. And versatile. You could do mini ramekins, you could do one big casserole, you can freeze it (just thaw it in the fridge before you bake) or you can make it up to 2 days in advance of baking (I made the meat mixture, cooled it, then added the potatoes and put it in the fridge, assembled. Then on the day we were eating, popped it in the oven until warm. Perfect!)

Shepherd’s Pie

(Sing for Your Supper)

Mashed Potato Topping:
5-6 large potatoes, peeled and cut into thirds
1/4 cup of milk
3 tbsp sour cream
2-3 tbsp Irish garlic and herb butter (or regular butter)
1/2 cup Irish extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (I used standard sharp cheddar)
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper

Boil a large pot of water. Peel the potatoes and cut into thirds. Boil the potatoes for 10-12 minutes or until fork tender. Drain potatoes and place back into the pan. Add the milk, sour cream, butter, cheddar cheese, sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper then mash with a masher or blend with a mixer until creamy and smooth. Cover with a lid and set aside.

Meat Filling and Sauce:
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
2 large carrots, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 lbs of lean ground beef
1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp Irish garlic and herb butter (or regular butter)
2 tbsp flour
1 1/4 cup beef broth

While the potatoes are cooking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery then cook until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add the lean ground beef and cook thoroughly. Add the salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.
Once the beef is done cooking, mix the peas into the mixture until well combined. Pour the beef filling into a large baking dish and set aside. In the same skillet over medium heat, add the 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of flour. Mix thoroughly then slowly add the beef broth. Season with sea salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the beef mixture and mix thoroughly. Top the beef and vegetable mixture with the mashed potatoes. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy.

Tags: Beef, Freezer Meal, Potatoes, Quick Meal