For those with a taste for traditional comfort food, the classic English Shepherd's Pie is an iconic dish that embodies the essence of British culinary heritage. This savory creation, steeped in history and passed down through generations, offers a delightful symphony of flavors and textures that tantalize the taste buds and warm the soul. As we embark on a culinary adventure to discover the best recipe for this beloved dish, let us delve into the secrets that make a truly exceptional Shepherd's Pie, exploring the perfect balance of ingredients, the art of layering, and the techniques that elevate this humble casserole into a culinary masterpiece.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
BEST CLASSIC SHEPHERD'S PIE RECIPE
The Best Classic Shepherd's Pie - AKA Shepards Pie or Cottage Pie. Ground Beef (or lamb) with vegetables in a rich gravy, topped with cheesy mashed potatoes and baked.
Provided by Amanda Finks
Categories Dinner Entree Main Course
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Add the oil to a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef (or ground lamb) to the skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the parsley, rosemary, thyme, salt, and and pepper. Stir well. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the meat is browned, stirring occasionally.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and tomato paste. Stir until well incorporated and no clumps of tomato paste remain.
- Add the broth, frozen peas and carrots, and frozen corn. Bring the liquid to a boil then reduce to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Set the meat mixture aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the potatoes in a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water. Bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes in a colander. Return the potatoes to the hot pot. Let the potatoes rest in the hot pot for 1 minute to evaporate any remaining liquid.
- Add butter, half & half, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mash the potatoes and stir until all the ingredients are mixed together.
- Add the parmesan cheese to the potatoes. Stir until well combined.
- Pour the meat mixture into a 9x9 (or 7x11) inch baking dish. Spread it out into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes on top of the meat. Carefully spread into an even layer.
- If the baking dish looks very full, place it on a rimmed baking sheet so that the filling doesn't bubble over into your oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.** Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /6th of the recipe, Calories 400 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 30 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Cholesterol 97 mg, Sodium 751 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 2 g
MUMMY BOOME'S TRADITIONAL SHEPHERDS PIE
Steps:
- Preheat oven at 400 degrees F.
- Add butter and oil to a large skillet on medium heat. Saute onions, carrots, celery and garlic until tender for about 7 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Once the vegetables have softened and start to brown a little add the tomato paste and mix evenly. Add the ground beef and cook until beef is no longer pink about 10 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and beef stock. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook and simmer for another 10 minutes. Mix in peas. Transfer mixture to an oven-proof baking dish and spread evenly. Place potato on top of ground beef mixture and spread out evenly, once the top surface has been covered, rake through with a fork so that there are peaks that will brown nicely. Place the dish into the preheated oven and cook until browned about 20 minutes. Spoon out the shepherd's pie and serve.
- Fill a large saucepan with cold water and a tablespoon of salt. Add potatoes to the water and bring to a boil. Let potatoes cook until soft about 20 minutes. Once the potatoes are at a desired density, drain the potatoes and place them back into the saucepan for mashing. Add butter and cream and begin to mash potatoes into a semi smooth consistency. Once at desired texture add cheese and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
CLASSIC SHEPHERD'S PIE
A savory base of ground beef and vegetables in tangy tomato gravy and topped with a layer of buttery mashed potatoes. It's the perfect comfort food for your hungry family.
Provided by Heinz
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Heinzitup.com
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and half of the salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 7 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).
- Crumble meat into pan and cook until brown all over. Sprinkle with flour. Stir in ketchup, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in mixed vegetables. Transfer to a 9-inch (23-cm) baking dish.
- Whip the potatoes with the warm milk, remaining salt and pepper, butter and garlic until very fluffy. Spread potatoes evenly over meat mixture. Bake for 35 minutes or until potatoes are golden.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 375.3 calories, Carbohydrate 44 g, Cholesterol 56.5 mg, Fat 17.4 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 18.2 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 1602.7 mg, Sugar 3.5 g
NO-FUSS SHEPHERD'S PIE
We've got some lovely twists on shepherd's pie on the site, but we were missing a definitive version of this classic family recipe - here it is!
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a medium saucepan, then soften 1 chopped onion and 2-3 chopped carrots for a few mins.
- When soft, turn up the heat, crumble in 500g lamb mince and brown, tipping off any excess fat.
- Add 2 tbsp tomato purée and a large splash of Worcestershire sauce, then fry for a few mins.
- Pour over 500ml beef stock, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 40 mins, uncovering halfway.
- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, then make the mash. Boil the 900g potato, cut into chunks, in salted water for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain, then mash with 85g butter and 3 tbsp milk.
- Put the mince into an ovenproof dish, top with the mash and ruffle with a fork. The pie can now be chilled and frozen for up to a month.
- Bake for 20-25 mins until the top is starting to colour and the mince is bubbling through at the edges. (To bake from frozen, cook at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot in the centre. Flash under the grill to brown, if you like.)
- Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 663 calories, Fat 39 grams fat, SaturatedFat 20 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 49 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 33 grams protein, Sodium 1.35 milligram of sodium
TRADITIONAL SHEPHERD'S PIE
Instead of using a pastry crust, this recipe creates a savory crust with mashed potatoes. The bacon flavor in the filling is fabulous! I think you and your family will love this pleasing pie.-Chris Eschweiler, Dallas, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 6-8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. In the same skillet, cook bacon, onion, garlic and oregano until bacon is crisp; drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, olives and beef. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until heated through. , Meanwhile, combine the mashed potatoes, eggs, butter, cilantro and salt. Spread half of the potato mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Layer with beef mixture and remaining potato mixture. , Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Brush the pie with melted butter. Bake 10 minutes longer or until top is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 288 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 100mg cholesterol, Sodium 354mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
TRADITIONAL SHEPHERD'S PIE
This rich and meaty classic shepherd's pie is made with a mixture of lamb and sirloin and topped with a creamy, cheesy mashed potato topping--it's sure to delight everyone at the table.
Provided by NicoleMcmom
Time 1h25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Place potatoes in large saucepan and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and place pot over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and drain.
- Return potatoes to the hot pan and set over the same burner. Add milk and 2 tablespoons butter; allow butter to melt from the residual heat. Mash potatoes with a potato masher until smooth. Stir in Cheddar cheese, sour cream, egg yolk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside while you prepare the filling.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- Heat olive oil and remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrot and cook, stirring constantly, until onion begins to turn translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add lamb and beef and cook, crumbling with a spoon and stirring often until browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle meat mixture with flour, remaining salt and pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
- Add beef stock, tomato paste, and Worcestershire; cook, scraping any flavorful bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring mixture to a simmer. Cook until thickened and vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in peas. Transfer mixture to the prepared casserole dish and top with the prepared mashed potatoes.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbly around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 501.5 calories, Carbohydrate 41.2 g, Cholesterol 118.1 mg, Fat 24.3 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 29.7 g, SaturatedFat 11.7 g, Sodium 1469.9 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
SHEPHERD'S PIE ENGLISH STYLE
I have adapted from another recipe I had for Shepherds's Pie. My husband's Scottish roots led me to this recipe. I have substituted ketsup for the tomato paste with good results.
Provided by Southern Lady
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook potatoes in salted water. Drain, let cool and remove skins.
- Mash in large bowl with butter, Half & Half, sour cream, and season to taste with 1/2 tsps. each salt and pepper. Spur cream is optional but does add flavor to the potatoes. Set aside.
- Saute beef until browned and crumbly. Season to taste with 1/2 tsps each of salt and pepper.
- Add tomatoes, mushrooms, parsley, tomato paste, Worcestershire and gravy. Stir to mix.
- Add peas and cook about 5 minutes.
- Fold mixture into casserole dish.
- Spread potatoes evenly over meat. Bake at 400 degrees 40 minutes until top is crispy brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 514.7, Fat 17.4, SaturatedFat 7.8, Cholesterol 64.6, Sodium 1177.9, Carbohydrate 65.7, Fiber 9.9, Sugar 6.9, Protein 26
OLD FASHIONED SHEPHERD'S PIE
I do not have the exact measurement of the ingredients, but my Mom made it like this and before her my grand-maman made it the same way, so here it is if you care to try. PATE CHINOIS (our shepherd's pie)
Provided by Lise Peter
Categories Low Cholesterol
Time 2h
Yield 1 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a frying pan that can go in the oven, saute the onions and the garlic until wilted, remove. Add the beef to the pan and cook it until done. Remove the fat. Return the onions and the garlic, add salt, pepper and thyme, add the gravy and stir evenly.
- Cover the whole thing with corn.
- Spread the hot mashed potatoes on top of the corn, making grooves.
- put little dashes of butter all over and sprinkle some paprika all over.
- Set in the oven about 1 hour at 300F or until the potatoes are all brown and crispy all around the rim We use an iron frying pan and it's just great.
- The longer you leave it in the oven, the better because all the flavours marry and it is just nice. You can lower the heat in order to leave it in longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 2738, Fat 99.3, SaturatedFat 43, Cholesterol 370.2, Sodium 1760.9, Carbohydrate 345.9, Fiber 42, Sugar 29.8, Protein 128.5
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. This means using fresh, organic vegetables, and high-quality meat.
- Don't overcook the vegetables. They should be tender but still have a little bit of crunch.
- Season the meat and vegetables well. This will help to bring out the flavor of the dish.
- Use a good quality gravy. This is what will really make the dish. You can either make your own gravy or use a store-bought variety.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. There are many variations of shepherd's pie, so feel free to add your own personal touch.
Conclusion:
Shepherd's pie is a classic English dish that is both hearty and delicious. It is a great meal for a cold winter night, and it is also easy to make. With a few simple tips, you can make a shepherd's pie that your whole family will love.
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