Best 4 Shepherds Pie Alton Brown Recipes

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Comfort food comes in many forms, and few embody a sense of warmth and deliciousness like a hearty shepherd's pie. This savory dish, with its tender and flavorful ground lamb or beef filling, topped with a creamy mashed potato crust, is a classic that has been enjoyed for generations. Whether you're seeking a nostalgic meal or a hearty feast to warm your soul on a chilly evening, preparing a shepherd's pie is an endeavor that is both rewarding and incredibly satisfying.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

SHEPHERD'S PIE - ALTON BROWN



Shepherd's Pie - Alton Brown image

Make and share this Shepherd's Pie - Alton Brown recipe from Food.com.

Provided by KacerPie

Categories     Meat

Time 1h30m

Yield 1 Casserole, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 1/2 lbs russet potatoes
1/4 cup half-and-half
2 ounces unsalted butter
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, peeled and diced small
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 1/2 lbs ground lamb
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup peas

Steps:

  • Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
  • Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.
  • Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/shepherds-pie-recipe2/index.html?oc=linkback.

SHEPHERD'S PIE



Shepherd's Pie image

When you're in the mood for a meaty, savory comfort-food classic, serve Alton Brown's Shepherd's Pie from Good Eats on Food Network.

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes
1/4 cup half-and-half
2 ounces unsalted butter
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, peeled and diced small
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup fresh or frozen English peas

Steps:

  • Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
  • Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

ALTON BROWN'S SHEPHERD'S PIE



Alton Brown's Shepherd's Pie image

You might also like these Fuss-Free Shepherd's Pie Recipes

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     beef,comfort food,dinner,eggs and dairy,lamb,Legumes,potatoes,vegetables

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 ½ lb(s) russet potatoes
¼ cup half-and-half
2 oz unsalted butter
¾ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 egg yolk
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, peeled and diced small
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ lb(s) ground lamb
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp freshly chopped rosemary leaves
1 tsp freshly chopped thyme leaves
½ cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
½ cup fresh or frozen English peas

Steps:

  • Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil.
  • Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds.
  • Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.
  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  • While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
  • Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

AMERICAN SHEPHERD'S PIE (COWHERD'S PIE)



American Shepherd's Pie (Cowherd's Pie) image

A variation on Alton Brown's highly-regarded Shepherd's Pie recipe, substituting ground beef for lamb. You will find the original recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/shepherds-pie-recipe2/index.html This is my to-try selection for the week of January 2, 2012.

Provided by Cranky Ex-Chef

Categories     Meat

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 1/2 lbs potatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 ounces butter, unsalted
3/4 teaspoon salt, kosher
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced small
2 garlic cloves, mashed
2 lbs lean ground beef
1 teaspoon salt, kosher
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup frozen peas

Steps:

  • Make the Mashed Potatoes:.
  • Peel the potatoes and cut into a large dice. Place in pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to a simmer, cooking the potatoes until a fork inserted in a potato dice causes it to break apart. Drain the potatoes and then return to the pot, adding the cream and butter. Mash the potatoes until smooth then season with the salt and pepper. Add the egg yolk, stirring until well combined. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
  • Make the Meat Filling.
  • (If you are a confident kitchen multi-tasker, you can prepare the meat filling while the potatoes are cooking to decrease the total prep time on the meal).
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Heat a large saute pan or dutch oven (for a one-pot meal) over medium-high heat. Add the oil, allow it to heat for a moment then add the onion and carrots. Saute the veggies about four minutes, or until the onions just begin to brown. Stir in the crushed garlic, then crumble in the ground beef and stir to brown. Cook the meat 3-5 minutes, or until the beef is cooked through. Season with the salt and pepper, then sprinkle on the flour, tossing to coat the meat. Cook the floured meat for another minute. Stir in the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. Allow the mix to come to a boil, stirring to keep the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly.
  • If you prepared the meat in a dutch oven or similar casserole you may leave the meat mixture in that dish and continue with the recipe. Otherwise, to bake the dish in a casserole pan spread the meat mixture evenly into an 11" by 7" glass baking dish. The glass baking dish is prone to boil-overs so set it on a foil- or parchment-lined cookie sheet when baking.
  • Spread the peas and corn on top of the meat mixture then gently top with the mashed potatoes, starting at the edges and smoothing the potatoes towards the middle of the dish with an offset metal or rubber spatula.
  • Place the casserole on a rack in the middle of the oven and backe for 25 minutes, or until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 433.1, Fat 24.3, SaturatedFat 10.7, Cholesterol 119.9, Sodium 775.3, Carbohydrate 26.6, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 3, Protein 27.3

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use high-quality ingredients. Look for ground lamb that is fresh and has a good amount of fat (at least 20%).
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when browning the lamb. If you do, the meat will steam instead of brown.
  • Be patient when simmering the sauce. The longer it simmers, the more flavor it will develop.
  • Don't overcook the potatoes. You want them to be tender but still hold their shape.
  • Use a good quality cheddar cheese for the topping. A sharp cheddar will give the dish a nice tang.
  • Let the shepherd's pie cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. This will help the flavors to meld and the pie to set.

Conclusion:

Shepherd's pie is a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for a cold night. It is also a great way to use up leftover lamb. With a few simple tips, you can make a shepherd's pie that is sure to impress your family and friends.

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