Shepherd’s Pie

We just had St. Patrick’s day and all the Irish food – but one thing I didn’t see a lot of was shepherd’s pie. A classic Irish dish.

Back in the late 1700s, they needed a way to use their leftovers. They mixed up the meats and vegetables and topped the “pie” with mashed potatoes. It was a hit! And it continues to be a hit today!

Shepherd’s Pie and it’s cousin, Cottage Pie (shepherds use lamb, cottage uses beef) continue to be a great way to use leftovers and have a great comfort dish.

Here’s how you do it:

Start with the onions. Add the olive oil to a heavy pan and heat it up. Put the onions in and gently sauté until they start to soften.

Add the lamb and cook on medium until it’s browned.

Stir in the herbs, worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, lemon pepper and flour.

Heat, stirring constantly. As the flour begins to brown and thicken, stir in the tomato paste and broth. Stir until well mixed.

Add the peas, corn and port, cover and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes.

While the meat is cooking, make the potatoes.

Peel each one and cut into medium cubes.

Add to salted water and bring to a boil. Simmer until they fall apart with a fork.

When they are cooked, drain them well.

Add the butter to the bottom of the pan, then drop the potatoes on. Using a masher, mash them with the butter.

Add the half & half and pepper, stirring well and mashing more if needed.

Stir in the cheese and set aside to finish the meat.

Now that both the meat and the potatoes are done, time to build the pie!

Lightly spray a casserole pan with oil. Spread the meat mixture evenly on the bottom.

Top it off with an even spreading of the potatoes.

Bake in a preheated, 400 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is browned and the bottom is bubbling.

Remove from the oven and it let it cool for 15 or 20 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

© Copyright 2023 The Lazy Gastronome

Here are some things that are perfect to use for this recipe or to give as a gift!

Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links through Amazon.com. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!