Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are the ingredients for shepherds pie? ›

Shepherd's Pie Ingredients

Ground Beef: You could also ground lamb if you prefer. Mashed Potatoes: Use starchy potatoes (like russet or Yukon Gold) for the best mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are also made with butter, onion, and Cheddar cheese.

Talk about satisfying. Ground beef, vegetables, and gravy are baked under pillowy mashed potatoes. If it's not yet already, this will soon be a family favorite recipe.

How do you keep shepherds pie from falling apart? The eggs in the mashed potatoes help keep the pie together. You should also make sure to spread the potatoes and press down a bit.

Thicken the filling

Step 3: Two ingredients help create a gravy-like consistency in the shepherd's pie recipe: tomato paste and flour. The concentrated tomatoes disperse and lightly thicken the beef stock. The flour is stirred with the meat and then swells and reduces as the liquid simmers.

And, by doing so, the humble shepherd's pie was born. Originally, the dish contained a pastry shell at the bottom, top, or both. Over time, this morphed into potato slices at the bottom and top of savory minced lamb meat, until it eventually became a topping of mashed potatoes.

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

Soy sauce: Soy sauce offers a savory, umami-rich flavor that can substitute for Worcestershire sauce. Use it in equal parts or adjust to taste. Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar adds a slightly sweet and tangy flavor, similar to Worcestershire sauce. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste.

The Shepherd's Pie has saucy ground meat and vegetables covered in a a mashed potato crust, sprinkled with shredded cheese, and baked to bubbly perfection.

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

Why is my shepherd's pie runny? Generally, this is caused by using too much stock. If you follow this recipe's measurements you'll have the right amount but don't forget to reduce the meat filling long enough so it's not runny.

Why does my potato sink in shepherds pie? ›

Residual moisture from the potatoes will drip into the beef below as it cooks, and too much of it will cause the potatoes to eventually sink.

I like to use my beloved metal-handled Scanpan Chef's pan to make my shepherds pie. It is the perfect size for this recipe and reduces my dish washing as I cook the meat in the pan then put the mashed potato on top and bake it in the same pan.

After this, we cook the ground / mince meat – traditionally lamb but equally delicious made with beef – before adding flour (which thickens the sauce) and gravy flavourings (beef broth, tomato paste, beef bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce and red wine which is optional).

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one.

Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Dominic Chapman's shepherd's pie recipe offers a few secrets on how to get it perfect. Adding egg yolks to the mash, which will give the top layer a golden crust, is just one of them.