Leftover Turkey Shepherds Pie - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

Is shepherd's pie made from leftovers? ›

The next time you have mashed potatoes and gravy, plan on making a little extra or use the leftovers to make this Shepherd's Pie recipe the next day. You can keep cooked ground beef in the freezer to use and use canned gravy to make things go really fast if you don't already have leftover gravy.

Shepherds is Lamb, Cottage is Beef, other than that it is pretty much the same recipe. Here's a fun fact though; the distinction is a kind of backward invention based on the names.

If it is made with lamb (or mutton, however mutton is rarely sold in England in the modern day) it is usually called "shepherd's pie" (because a shepherd looks after sheep) and has a topping of mashed potato, patterned to represent sheep's fleece.

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.

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.

This hearty dish is a great source of protein with plenty of tasty vegetables yet is low in salt, potassium and phosphate.

Potato (Sulphites) (35%), Beef (17%), Water, Turnip, Red Wine (Sulphites), Onions, Swede, Wholemeal Breadcrumb [Wholemeal Wheat Flour, Yeast, Salt], Carrots, Leeks, Chopped Tomatoes, Thickener (E1422), Tomato Paste, Yeast Extract, Garlic Puree, Sugar, Red Wine Vinegar, Unsalted Butter (Milk), Beef Stock [Beef, ...

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

According to the Oxford Companion to Food, once upon a time, Scotland made its shepherd's pies with pastry instead of mashed potatoes. Indian cooks once considered shepherd's pie to be a perfect dish for tiffin (a word used to mean a light snack in British India).

How do you keep potatoes from sinking in shepherd's pie? Let the beef layer cool before you top it with the mashed potatoes. This is the number one way to keep your potatoes from sinking. Another tip is to not make your potatoes too runny because firmer mashed potatoes stay more level while baking.

Why is my shepherd's pie sloppy? ›

Why is my shepherd's pie runny? Generally, this is caused by using too much stock.

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.

A Shepherd's Pie is the perfect make-ahead food. In the fridge Cook up to point 11 in the recipe below and you can keep this recipe in the fridge for 2 days.

The main difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's pie is cottage pie uses ground beef, and Shepherd's pie uses ground lamb. Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes. To make Shepherd's pie using this recipe, simply substitute ground lamb.

Wrap cooled pie in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with contents and date; place in freezer. For best quality, serve within 2-3 months; however, shepherd's pie will remain safe indefinitely, stored at 0° F. When ready to eat, thaw for about 24-hours in the refrigerator.