How Do You Make Shepherd's Pie?

[isadorasmama]

Boiling the Russets now. I have a lb of ground beef. I've made Shepherd's Pie before but I'm wondering how you how you make yours. Looking for simple tried and true to gussied up variations.

[Ernie Diamond]

I like to use lamb, really mutton if I can find it. At my old farmers market, I asked a meat vendor if she carried mutton. Her reply; "only for dog food." Apparently there was so little demand, the only way she could move it was in little one-pound packets for people to feed to their dogs. I hasten to add that it made an outstanding Shepherd's Pie.

I also think that a bottle of malt vinegar is the preferred condiment, though I don't know whether I am alone in that respect.

[chowser]

I use a moussaka base for the meat, instead of just browned ground beef.

[Val]

You might be confusing Shepherd's pie which uses lamb with Cottage pie, which uses beef...here's a recipe from epicurious that might be good, though not tried and true by me; when I make Shepherd's pie, it's always with leftover roast lamb:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

[Phurstluv]

I think most of us in the US consider shepherd's pie the beef version, even if it's not the original moniker.

My mom used to make it with ground beef, canned corn, and mashed potatoes on top (this was the 70s.) I never liked nor ate it. but my sisters did.

Now that I cook myself, I tend to make it with cubed leftover beef roast, instead of hamburg. But you can definitely do it with ground beef. In fact, the version I do make with ground beef is more like a mexican style, in that I season the beef so it's almost like a chili (use ground turkey a lot too) with tomato and spices, top with cheese, then the mashed potatoes. My Dad now claims to like this version even better. Really good on a cold night, and freezes well too.

[pikawicca]

I'm American, and Shepherd's Pie has always been made with lamb in my family. Time was when many Americans wouldn't touch lamb, so maybe recipe writers switched to beef in deference to popular taste. (My mom was Irish, so this would have been heresy to her.)

[coll]

You can make it with ground beef, but then it is Cottage Pie. Shepherds herd sheep and that's where it came from. So much better with lamb. I also make a Mexican version, made with turkey or chicken and topped with spicy mashed sweet potatoes, but I think it's actually a recipe that has a name, like Mexican pie. Popular in England for some reason. If this wasn't a last minute thing for OP, I would dig out my recipes but gotta get dinner on the table myself!

[isadorasmama]

After posting this I used The Google and sure enough it does appear that what I was jonesing to make WAS Cottage Pie and not Shepherd's Pie. I think I'm going to continue to call it the latter, though. ;)

I wound up making simple mashed potatoes with a little milk, butter, and s&p. I browned the beef and then added a finely chopped garlic clove, about 2 tsp of chili powder, and about 2 TB tomato paste. Then s&p to taste. I threw in diced carrots and frozen peas. Lined the beef mixture in pyrex and covered with the potatoes. Sprinkled shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano on top and loosely covered with foil. Baked at 375 for 20 minutes. Took off the foil and baked for another 10 minutes. Then I put on the broiler and kept it in there until the potato browned. It looked lovely and tasted awesome. Kids inhaled it. Perfect for lunch today - snowpocalypse #2!

[coll]

A little white cheddar mixed in the potatoes is really nice. I like to make a thick gravy with either wine or beer and lots of cornstarch, just to bind it, don't know if that works for the kids though. My biggest "secret" is lots and lots of black pepper, and also worchestshire, in the meat, and paprika on top of the potatoes (along with some parmesan like you). We like it spicy, but not so much Mexican spicy. Although I'm doing enchiladas tonight for a snowy treat.

[isadorasmama]

I cook with wine and other spirits quite a bit, but not so much beer. I try to avoid gluten. So yeah...the kids are used to eating sauces partially comprised of alcohol.

I had intended to use worchestershire rather than the tomato paste but I couldn't find any in the house. I substituted the tomato paste because the kids treat anything tomato based (ketchup for instance) like a whole food group!

Next time I'll try the gravy idea. Sounds yummy. Thanks, coll.

[coll]

I forgot to mention, I put a good squirt of ketchup in there too. So it does need some form of tomato, and paste is healthier. I usually use red wine, I tried Guinness a few times but wine is better. My mom always used sherry in everything when I was a kid, but didn't know if that's still done these days. I add alcohol to a lot of things and people sometimes act like it's weird and comment on it, not that it stops me.

[WhatThePho]

Crazy, I've never looked up a recipe for shepherd's pie, and apparently it's not what I thought it was.

What Mom called shepherd's pie was like turkey dinner leftover casserole. Stuffing on the bottom, then minced roast turkey and gravy, cooked veg. optional and mashed potatoes on top, baked till the potatoes had a sort of crust.

This is not at all what you guys are talking about, is it? *dumbfounded* This is life-changing.

[isadorasmama]

Nope, except for the crust.

Can't fault your mom for taking liberties with the recipe since I did the same! I'm going to have to try her recipe after T-giving this year...

Btw, your screen name rules.

[WhatThePho]

Heehee sanks. I stole it from a shirt.