Description
This Easy Shepherd’s Pie is a classic British comfort food, featuring a flavorful ground lamb and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to a golden perfection. It’s a simple, hearty dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 lb (450 g) ground lamb (or beef for cottage pie)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Mashed Potato Topping
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a pot of salted water and boil until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain, then mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the pie later.
- Sauté Onion: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Cook Meat and Garlic: Add minced garlic and ground lamb to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes.
- Add Flavorings and Vegetables: Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, dried thyme, frozen mixed vegetables, salt, and pepper. Mix well and let it simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until the mixture slightly thickens.
- Assemble Pie: Transfer the meat and vegetable filling to a baking dish. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top. If using, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the mashed potatoes.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Optional Broil: For an extra golden and crispy topping, broil the pie for an additional 2–3 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
Notes
- For an authentic Shepherd’s Pie, use lamb as the ground meat.
- Cottage pie is traditionally made with ground beef instead of lamb.
- Broiling for a few minutes after baking gives the mashed potato topping a lovely golden crust.
- You can substitute frozen mixed vegetables with fresh vegetables like peas, carrots, and corn.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper according to taste throughout cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
