Criss Cross Shepherds Pie Food

THE BEST SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the topping: Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Season with 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and reserve the saucepan.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, celery, garlic, thyme and 2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and tender, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it turns brick red, about 8 minutes. Add the lamb, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the peas. Stir in the flour until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add the broth and Worcestershire and cook until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• To finish the topping, melt the butter in the large saucepan over medium heat. Add the cabbage and leeks and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the heavy cream, 1 tablespoon salt, and a few grinds of black pepper, and cook until warm, about 1 minute. Return the potatoes to the pan with the cabbage and add the cheese. Mash with a potato masher or wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and stir in the egg yolks.
• Transfer the filling to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add the topping, swirling to create texture. Make sure that the sides are sufficiently covered so the filling doesn't leak through. Bake until the filling is bubbly and the top is lightly golden, about 35 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.

GORDON RAMSAY SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Bring a large cast iron skillet, skillet, or frying pan to high heat with the olive oil.
• After the oil is hot, add in the ground lamb. Spread in an even layer and crisp one side, then turn and crisp the bottom side. Break apart the ground lamb after it is browned and crisped. Season the lamb with salt and pepper (use the first portion of salt & pepper, 1 teaspoon of each).
• Add in the onion, garlic, and carrot and cook for about 2-4 minutes till vegetables are soft.
• Pour in the Worcestershire sauce then the tomato puree and combine. Add in the red wine, thyme and rosemary and cook until most of the wine has evaporated off.
• Pour in the chicken stock and cook for 3-4 minutes. Then turn heat off and set aside.
• In a large stockpot cover peeled potatoes with water then boil the potatoes for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Drain.
• Mash potatoes either with a fork or a ricer if you have one.
• Season with the remaining salt & pepper.
• Stir in the butter, egg yolks and stir very quickly then add the Parmesan cheese and combine well. (Optional - reserve a few tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese for topping the Shepherds pie)
• Spoon the lamb meat into a casserole dish and then top with the potato. Using a spatula run the potatoes completely over the mince filling in any holes. It should look like a smooth mound.
• Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on the top and then using a fork drag along the top of the potatoes (this will give the potatoes a nice crunchy texture where they get raised by the fork).
• Place in your preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 18-20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow 5-10 minutes to cool before serving.

SHEPHERDS PIE WITH PUFF PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• Thaw the puff pastry for about 40 minutes, once thawed, do not roll it out!
• Spray a 9x9 inch casserole dish with oil and set aside.
• Cook the meatballs for 2 minutes in the microwave. Once they are cool cut them in half.
• Now cook the potatoes and carrots -- and while they are cooking saute the vegetables --.
• Put the cut up potatoes and carrots in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and add the tamari sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium for about 15- 20 minutes or until they are just soft. When they are done drain off the tamari water and add the 1/4 cup vegan margarine and using a hand blender or potato masher combine all together until the potato/carrot mixture is mashed.
• Preheat your oven to 350'F.
• I use coconut oil to saute the vegetables in because it doesn't go rancid when heated on high temperatures. Add all the cut up vegetables to the saute Pan.
• Once the vegetables are just tender (about 15-20 minutes) add the Spike seasoning, garlic powder and pepper to the cooking vegetables. Taste to see if your seasonings are to your liking. Add the meatballs, broth and mushroom soup. Give it a good stir and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
• When done, scoop the vegetables out of the saute pan with a slotted spoon into the oiled casserole dish. There should be some gravy left in the saute pan. Add the bread crumbs to this. If it's too thick add more broth. This mixture should be like gravy.
• Then put the gravy over the vegetables in the casserole dish and spread it all over the vegetables.
• Then put the mashed potato/carrot mixture over the gravy covered vegetables and spread it over all the vegetables. I used an off set spatula for this and it worked great.
• Then place your thawed puff pastry over top and tuck the sides down into the casserole dish. Beat the egg and brush it over the puff pastry.
• Cut steam holes in the top of the puff pastry. Bake for 40 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden brown and the vegetables are bubbling hot.
• Serve with a little ketchup, it does add.
• Bon Appetit!