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A freshly baked shepherd's pie with a golden-brown mashed potato topping.

Proven way to grow a perfect Shepherd's Pie

This recipe provides a proven method to create a delicious and satisfying Shepherd's Pie, featuring a rich meat filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Mashed Potato Topping
  • 1.5 kg Potatoes peeled and quartered
  • 50 g Butter
  • 100 ml Milk
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 0.5 tsp Black Pepper
For the Meat Filling
  • 500 g Ground Beef
  • 1 Onion chopped
  • 2 Carrots diced
  • 2 Celery Stalks diced
  • 2 Garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 250 ml Beef Broth
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Potato masher
  • Large oven-safe pan
  • Wooden spoon
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Fork

Method
 

Prepare the Mashed Potato Topping
  1. Boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water until tender, then drain thoroughly.
  2. Mash the cooked potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
Prepare the Meat Filling
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large oven-safe pan, breaking it up as it cooks, then drain any excess fat.
  2. Add chopped onion, diced carrots, and diced celery to the pan and cook until softened.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, then add dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
  5. Simmer the filling for 10-15 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
Assemble and Bake the Shepherd's Pie
  1. Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F).
  2. Spread the mashed potato topping evenly over the meat filling in the oven-safe pan.
  3. Use a fork to create decorative ridges on the potato topping.
  4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Serve
  1. Let the Shepherd's Pie rest for a few minutes before serving hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of nutmeg to the mashed potatoes or a splash of red wine to the meat filling.