Description
Hearty Shepherd’s Pie from Ina Garten blends classic British comfort with refined culinary techniques. Savory lamb, rich vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef or ground lamb (90% lean)
- 1 ½ to 2 lbs (680 to 907 g) russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 cup frozen mixed peas and carrots
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- ½ cup frozen corn kernels
- 8 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- ⅓ cup half and half
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsps dried parsley leaves
- 1 tsp dried rosemary leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp salt (for meat mixture)
- ½ tsp ground black pepper (for meat mixture)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt (for potato mixture)
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper (for potato mixture)
Instructions
- Aromatic Base: Warm a skillet over medium-high heat, drizzle with oil, and sauté onions until translucent and softened, about 5 minutes.
- Meat Preparation: Add ground beef or lamb, breaking it apart while seasoning with rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook until thoroughly browned, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Stir in garlic and Worcestershire sauce, then blend tomato paste and flour until fully incorporated, eliminating any dry patches.
- Vegetable Integration: Pour beef stock and mixed vegetables into the meat mixture, bringing to a gentle boil and then simmering for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Potato Topping: Boil potatoes in water until fork-tender, drain, and return to the pot. Mash with butter, half-and-half, salt, and pepper until creamy, then fold in Parmesan cheese for added richness.
- Assembly and Baking: Preheat oven to 400°F. Transfer meat mixture to a baking dish, creating an even layer, then top with a uniform potato crust. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the shepherd’s pie to rest for 15 minutes before serving, enabling flavors to meld and ensuring a perfect, hearty presentation.
Notes
- Master Meat Selection: Choose ground lamb for authentic flavor or ground beef for a classic twist; lean meat works best to prevent excess grease.
- Potato Perfection Technique: Allow potatoes to steam dry after draining to achieve ultra-fluffy, non-watery mashed potato topping that holds its shape beautifully.
- Flavor Layering Secret: Toast herbs briefly in the skillet before adding meat to intensify rosemary, thyme, and parsley’s aromatic qualities and deepen overall dish complexity.
- Baking Sheet Lifesaver: Always place the baking dish on a rimmed sheet to catch potential drips, preventing messy oven spills and ensuring easy clean-up.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg