Meats

Shepherd’s Pie

For the Filling

  • 1 to 1 1/2 lb ground lamb or beef
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup good-quality red wine
  • 1 1/2 cups beef stock
  • 2-3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • A few sprigs fresh herbs (thyme and/or rosemary)
  • 1 cup green peas

For the Mashed Potato Topping

  • 2 lb potatoes, peeled
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Pinch of saffron
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • Salt to taste
  • Parmesan, grated, for topping

Directions

  • Sear the ground meat in a wide, oven-safe pan over high heat, breaking it up and letting it crisp. Remove and set aside.
  • In the same pan, cook the onions, carrot, celery and garlic until softened and translucent.
  • Return the meat to the pan with the tomato paste and season with salt and pepper.
  • Deglaze with the red wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Pour in the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs. Simmer until thickened and saucy, then stir in the green peas.
  • Meanwhile, boil the potatoes until tender, drain, and pass them through a ricer or sieve for a smooth mash.
  • Warm the heavy cream with a pinch of saffron to infuse the color and flavor, then beat it into the potatoes along with the butter and salt until creamy.
  • Spread or pipe the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat and grate Parmesan generously over the top.
  • Bake at 400F until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling, about 25-30 minutes. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

Reconstructed from @cheffinwithzach's reel. He uses ground beef and, by his own admission, forgot the peas in the video (they are added back here). Amounts are approximate.