**Journey into Culinary Delight: A Gourmet Shepherd's Pie Experience**
Shepherd's pie, a classic comfort food, undergoes a delectable transformation in this recipe, elevating it to a gourmet masterpiece. This dish tantalizes the taste buds with its intricate layers of flavors, textures, and aromas. The hearty filling, boasting succulent lamb, savory vegetables, and rich gravy, is lovingly encased in a golden-brown mashed potato crust. Indulge in this culinary journey, where traditional British fare meets modern gourmet techniques, resulting in a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more. Discover the secrets behind this gourmet shepherd's pie, along with variations that cater to diverse dietary preferences, including a vegetarian and a gluten-free option. Prepare to embark on a culinary adventure that will redefine your perception of this timeless classic.
SHEPHERD'S PIE
The epitome of simple, homey comfort food, shepherd's pie is a casserole consisting of creamy mashed potatoes atop a rich and bubbly stew.
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Place the beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium bowl. Mash with your hand to combine. Set aside for 20 minutes.
- While the meat tenderizes, place the potatoes in medium saucepan and add just enough cold water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are soft and fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir the potatoes with a wooden spoon or potato masher until they are dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sour cream, butter, half & half, and the remaining teaspoon of salt. Using a potato masher, stir and mash the potatoes with the other ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
- Heat a 12-in oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the onions and carrots to the bacon fat and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the wine and increase the heat to high; bring to a boil, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half. Add the flour and stir until dissolved. Add the reserved ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce; continue cooking on high heat, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and cook, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the thyme, pepper, peas, and reserved bacon, and cook until the peas are warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Dollop the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling. Use a rubber or offset spatula to spread the potatoes evenly over the stew and all the way to the edges of the skillet. Drag a fork across the top to make ridges. Place the skillet on a baking sheet or large sheet of foil to catch any drips and bake until the filling is hot, the topping is lightly browned, and the edges are bubbly, about 30 minutes. (For more color, turn on the broiler and broil for the last 5 minutes, or until the top is golden.) Sprinkle with chives and serve.
- Note: If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the meat mixture to a 2.5-qt casserole dish and then spread the mashed potatoes overtop.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The stew portion of the recipe can be made several days ahead of time and refrigerated. Before assembling the pie, reheat the stew, adding a little broth if necessary if it seems dry. The mashed potatoes should be made right before assembling and baking the pie.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 650, Fat 33 g, Carbohydrate 50 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Sugar 7 g, Fiber 5 g, Sodium 1243 mg, Cholesterol 122 mg
SHEPHERD'S PIE
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
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.
GORDON RAMSAY'S SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH CHEESE CHAMP TOPPING
If I had to choose my all-time favourite family recipe, it would be this.
Provided by Gordon Ramsay
Categories Dinner Winter Potato Lamb Cheese Onion Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free
Yield Serves 6
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350° F/ 180° C/Gas 4. Place a large, wide frying pan or hob-proof casserole dish over a medium-high heat. Add a dash of oil and fry the mince in batches, seasoning each lot, until well browned. Add the garlic for the last 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Put a little more oil in the same pan and cook the onion and leeks over a medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until completely softened. Add Worcestershire sauce to taste, then stir in the tomato purée.
- Return the mince to the pan and stir well. Pour in the wine, scraping up any bits from the bottom. Bubble for a couple of minutes to burn off the alcohol, then add the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer, then add the rosemary and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Cook gently for 10-15 minutes, until the sauce has reduced slightly and the flavours are well-combined. Set aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, prepare the topping. Boil the potatoes until tender, then drain and mash until smooth. Mix in the butter and seasoning, then add the spring onions and three-quarters of the cheese and mix again. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. If the mash is too dry add a splash of milk to loosen.
- Put the lamb mixture into a 28 x 22cm baking dish and top with the mashed potato. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and little salt and pepper. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the potato is golden brown and the meat is bubbling underneath, and serve.
SHEPHERD'S PIE VI
This Shepherd's Pie is a layered casserole of beef, carrots, and potato.
Provided by Jacquie
Categories Main Dish Recipes Savory Pie Recipes Shepherd's Pie Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash. Mix in butter, finely chopped onion and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, mash and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
- Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onion and cook until clear. Add ground beef and cook until well browned. Pour off excess fat, then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add ketchup and beef broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Next, spread a layer of mashed carrots. Top with the mashed potato mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 451.8 calories, Carbohydrate 52.5 g, Cholesterol 64.5 mg, Fat 17 g, Fiber 7.3 g, Protein 23.1 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 294.6 mg, Sugar 5.8 g
SHEPHERD'S PIE
Provided by Victoria Granof
Categories Lamb Onion Potato Vegetable Bake Kid-Friendly Dinner Lunch Meat Ground Lamb Pea Root Vegetable Carrot Fall Winter Cookie Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Small Plates
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
- 2. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil, then add the onion, carrot, and meat. Cook until browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
- 3. Drain the fat and add the broth, tomato paste, and herbs. Simmer until the juices thicken, about 10 minutes, then add the peas.
- 4. Pour the mixture into a 1 1/2-quart baking dish; set aside.
- 5. Meanwhile, bring the potatoes to a boil in salted water. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes; drain.
- 6. Mash the potatoes with the butter, milk, and salt.
- 7. Spread them over the meat mixture, then crosshatch the top with a fork.
- 8. Bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes.
GOURMET SHEPHERD'S PIE
Common comfort food with a gourmet approach from Christine Cushing. When I saw her make this, I just had to try it the next day and loved it. It's one of my most favorite uses of sweet potatoes now. You can substitute the meat with ground lamb, veal or beef.
Provided by Whipper
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 2h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 27
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Add sweet potatoes and Yukon gold potatoes to a roasting pan and rub olive oil over them. Season with allspice, salt and pepper. Bake until potatoes are tender, about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
- While the potatoes are roasting, start the meat filling by melting the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the pork, turkey, shallots and garlic and sauté until the meat is golden, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, cinnamon and cloves and sauté over high heat until carrots soften, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and cook for 2 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, thyme, savoury, rosemary and chicken stock. Bring to a boil then reduce to low heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer covered until all the moisture is absorbed by the meat, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Add peas to the meat and gently mix inches Transfer the meat filling to a baking dish (about 7½" X 11½" X 3" deep).
- Peel potatoes and gently mash them in a bowl. Add butter, cream, nutmeg and salt and pepper and stir until blended. Spoon the mashed potatoes onto the meat filling and spread evenly with a spatula to completely cover it.
- Bake uncovered at 375°F until golden brown on top and meat filling is bubbling, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 490.6, Fat 24.9, SaturatedFat 10.1, Cholesterol 116.7, Sodium 317.7, Carbohydrate 31.1, Fiber 4.4, Sugar 6.1, Protein 31.5
Tips:
- Choose high-quality ground lamb: Look for ground lamb that is fresh and has a good fat content, as this will help to keep the shepherd's pie moist and flavorful.
- Use a variety of vegetables: Don't be afraid to experiment with different vegetables in your shepherd's pie. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, peas, and corn.
- Don't overcook the vegetables: The vegetables in your shepherd's pie should be cooked until they are tender but still have a bit of a bite to them. Overcooked vegetables will make your shepherd's pie mushy.
- Make sure the sauce is flavorful: The sauce is what really brings the shepherd's pie together, so make sure it is flavorful and well-seasoned. You can use a variety of herbs and spices to taste, such as thyme, rosemary, garlic, and paprika.
- Use a good quality mashed potato topping: The mashed potato topping is what gives shepherd's pie its classic look and texture. Make sure you use a good quality mashed potato recipe that is creamy and flavorful.
- Bake until golden brown: Bake the shepherd's pie until the top is golden brown and bubbly. This will ensure that the shepherd's pie is cooked through and heated evenly.
Conclusion:
Shepherd's pie is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. By following these tips, you can make a delicious and satisfying shepherd's pie that your family and friends will love.
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