How to Make Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is a traditional English meal that defines comfort food. Containing a mixture of lamb, gravy, vegetables, and a mashed potato topping, shepherd's pie is hearty fare. Learn how to make shepherd's pie by following the simple instructions given here.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pound ground lamb
• 1-1/2 pounds potatoes
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 medium onion
• 2 tablespoons butter, separated
• 1 can beef stock
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon rosemary

Instructions

1. Peel a pound-and-a-half of potatoes and cut into cubes about an inch in size. Boil a pot of water and add potatoes. Let the water reach a boil again and then reduce the heat. Simmer the potatoes until tender, about 15-20 minutes.

2. Peel and dice one medium carrot. Chop a medium onion and dice one stalk of celery.

3. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter or vegetable oil in a big pot. Add the vegetables and cook on medium-low heat for around 15 minutes, stirring intermittently.

4. Drain potatoes and mash, saving 1/2 cup of water. Add the water and tablespoon of butter. You can use a hand mixer for this task.

5. Turn up the heat on the vegetable mixture and add a pound of ground lamb. Cook the meat until it is not pink and drain off the fat.

6. Stir in 1 tablespoon of flour and stir well. This will thicken the gravy. Add in a can of beef broth and season with a teaspoon each of thyme and rosemary.

7. Mix the ingredients together to thicken the gravy. This will take about 5 minutes. Put the meat mixture in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes.

8. Bake the Shepherd's Pie in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• Replace the lamb with ground beef and make cottage pie.

• Always use caution when working around a hot oven.

Resources

• Get step-by-step cooking instructions with photos here.
• Find recipes of all sorts at this website.