Description
Hearty classic shepherds pie brings comfort from Irish kitchens with tender lamb and creamy potato topping. Robust flavors and simple ingredients create a satisfying meal you’ll savor with warmth and nostalgia.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground lamb
- 2 lbs (900g) potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup beef or lamb stock
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ½ cup milk or cream
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Immerse potatoes in heavily salted water, cooking until tender and easily pierced, approximately 15-20 minutes. Drain and transform into a velvety mash by blending with milk, butter, Parmesan, salt, and pepper until supremely smooth.
- Vegetable Foundation: Ignite a large skillet with olive oil, sautéing onions, carrots, and celery until translucent and softened. Introduce minced garlic, allowing its fragrance to permeate the vegetable ensemble for one minute.
- Meat Development: Incorporate ground lamb into the skillet, methodically breaking down the meat and caramelizing to a rich golden-brown. Drain excess fat if needed. Blend in tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, Worcestershire sauce, and stock, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Flavor Refinement: Reduce heat and allow the mixture to simmer and concentrate for 10 minutes. Integrate green peas and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to enhance taste complexity.
- Assembly and Baking: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Transfer lamb mixture into a baking dish, distributing evenly. Artfully cascade mashed potatoes over the filling, sculpting textural ridges with a fork to encourage crispy edges.
- Final Transformation: Bake for 20-25 minutes until potato topping achieves a golden, slightly crisp appearance. Allow the pie a 5-minute rest after removing from the oven. Serve alongside a crisp green salad or steamed vegetables for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Master Potato Technique: Ensure potatoes are uniformly chopped for consistent cooking and drain completely to prevent watery mash, which can compromise the pie’s texture.
- Meat Browning Strategy: Allow ground lamb to develop deep caramelization without overcrowding the pan, enabling rich flavor development and preventing steaming instead of browning.
- Seasoning Calibration: Taste the meat mixture before topping with potatoes, adjusting herbs and Worcestershire sauce to enhance depth and complexity of flavor profile.
- Potato Topping Perfection: Create deliberate fork ridges on potato surface to generate crispy, golden peaks during baking, which adds textural contrast and visual appeal to the final dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg