How To Make Shepherd's Pie
Enjoy a cheesy Shepherd's Pie with a trace of sautéed onions accompanied by garden peas. One of the most popular and traditional dishes originating from the UK and perfect comfort food for a rainy day.
Ingredients:
500g potatoes
50g grated cheddar cheese
1 tbps vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 sticks of celery, diced
1kg minced mutton
300ml beed broth/stock
1 tbsp flour mixed with 1 tbsp butter
150g butter
salt and pepper, to season
100ml milk
[Related story: How to make a delicious pork pie]
Step 1: Sauté the onions
Put some oil in a skillet and sauté the onions. When they are soft and starting to brown, remove them from the skillet using a slotted spoon and set to one side.
Step 2: Prepare the carrots and celery
Sauté the carrots and celery until they start to brown.
Step 3: Pre-heat the oven
Set the temperature of the oven at 220ºC.
Step 4: Sauté the meat
Heat the oil with 50 grams of butter and add the meat, stirring it until it browns.
Step 5: Add the vegetables
As it browns add the carrots and celery.
Step 6: Add the stock
When the meat has browned add the stock and stir well.
Step 7: Thicken with butter/flour
Stir in the butter and flour mixture to thicken the stock. Cook for a further couple of minutes and set the pan to one side.
Step 8: Cook the potatoes
Boil the potatoes in salted water until soft.
Step 9: Make potato purée
When the potatoes are soft, drain out the water and mash them with half of the remaining butter and grated cheese. If it is too thick add a little milk. When it has reached a smooth consistency stir in a pinch of salt and pepper to season.
Step 10: Add the onions
Stir in the sautéed onions
Step 11: Prepare the dish for the oven
Transfer the meat into the baking dish. Spread it out to make an even layer. Spoon over the mashed potato and tease the surface with a fork to create some texture. To finish, brush on the last of the melted butter.
Step 12: Bake the shepherds pie
Place the shepherds pie in the oven and bake at 200 C for half an hour.
Step 13: Serve
Check the shepherds pie from time to time to make sure the potato isn't burning. Serve and enjoy.
Serving suggestion
This is a complete meal in itself and you shouldn't need anything else but if you like it can be served with peas.