The Best Shepherd’s Pie

Recipe by: Colman Andrews | from The Country Cooking of Ireland

Cookstr

Course: Main Course

Total Time: Under 4 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

Several years ago, two prominent West Cork food personalities—writer and TV host Clodagh McKenna and her friend the culinary historian Regina Sexton—got together and decided to come up with the ultimate shepherd’s pie recipe. This was the result.

Yield: Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, minced
1½ carrots, minced
1½ pounds/750 g lamb, minced or ground
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 cup/240 ml hot beef or Lamb Stock or Chicken Stock
Salt and pepper
4 cups/850 g freshly made Mashed Potatoes
2 tbsp butter, melted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C (Gas Mark 4).

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until they are soft but not browned.

Raise the heat to high, add the lamb, and cook until well browned. Stir in the tomato paste and mustard, then add the stock. Reduce the heat to low, season to taste with salt and pepper, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the stock is mostly but not completely evaporated.

Transfer the meat mixture to a round or rectangular ovenproof baking dish. Cover the meat with mashed potatoes, flattening the top with a knife. (Make a wave or crosshatch pattern in the top of the potatoes, if you like.) Brush the top with melted butter, then bake for 50 minutes.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information is based on 1/8 teaspoon added salt per serving and does not include Lamb or Chicken Stock and Mashed Potatoes. For nutritional information on Lamb Stock, Chicken Stock, and Mashed Potatoes please follow the links above.

Calories 921kcal (46%)

Calcium 36mg (4%)

Vitamin C 3mg (5%)

Vitamin A 162mcg RAE (5%)

Potassium 207mg

Magnesium 17mg

Protein 9g

Sugar 2g

Fiber 1g

Total Carbohydrate 4g

Cholesterol 123mg (41%)

Sodium 353mg (15%)