Discover the ultimate comfort food with our classic Shepherd's Pie Recipe. Layers of savory minced meat, rich gravy, and creamy mashed potatoes come together in this timeless dish. Perfect for cozy family dinners or chilly evenings.
1lbground lambsubstitute with beef for cottage pie
1medium oniondiced
2carrotspeeled and diced
2clovesgarlicminced
1cupfrozen peas
2tbsptomato paste
1tbspWorcestershire sauce
1cuplamb or beef stock
Fresh herbsrosemary, thyme, parsley
Salt and pepperto taste
2lbspotatoespeeled and quartered
1/2cupmilk
4tbspbutter
1/4cupgrated cheeseoptional
Instructions
Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking your pie.
Cook the Meat: In a large skillet, brown the ground lamb over medium heat. Once cooked, remove the lamb, leaving the fat in the pan.
Sauté the Vegetables: Add the diced onion and carrots to the skillet, cooking until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
Combine and Simmer: Return the lamb to the skillet with the vegetables. Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and stock. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and let it thicken slightly.
Boil the Potatoes: While the meat simmers, boil the potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and return them to the pot.
Mash and Season: Add milk and butter to the potatoes, mashing until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble the Pie: In a baking dish, spread the meat mixture evenly. Sprinkle the frozen peas over the meat. Dollop the mashed potatoes on top and spread into an even layer. If desired, rake the fork across the top for texture and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden and the edges are bubbling.
Rest and Serve: Let the shepherd’s pie sit for a few minutes after baking. This allows the flavors to meld and the pie to set, making it easier to serve.