Lads Petite 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.

MINI LENTIL SHEPHERD'S PIES

Steps:

• To make the filling, heat the butter or oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion, carrots, celery and garlic for 15 mins until soft and golden. Turn up the heat, add the mushrooms, then cook for 3-4 mins. Sprinkle in the thyme and add the lentils. Pour over the wine and stock, then simmer gently, uncovered, for about 40-45 mins until the lentils are soft. If you find the mixture is drying out, you can add a splash more stock or water.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a large pan, pour over boiling water and boil for 15-20 mins until tender. Drain well. You can use a potato ricer at this stage to make them super creamy, or mash with the butter and milk, then season with salt and pepper.
• Remove the lentils from the heat, add the tomato purée and yeast extract, if using. Stir well and check to see if you need seasoning, then add a good grinding of black pepper.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To assemble, butter four-six small pie dishes or one a large dish and spoon in the lentil mixture, then top with mash. It's fun to pipe on the mash if you have a piping bag, but if not, you can spoon it on and fluff into peaks with a fork. Bake for 30-40 mins until golden. Serve with peas on the side, if you like.

TODDLER RECIPE: MINI SHEPHERD'S PIES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, add the onion and cook for around 5 mins until softened. Stir in the garlic, carrots, celery, pepper and cumin. Cook for a further two mins, then add the lamb. Brown the meat, tipping off any excess fat. Add the courgette and tomato purée, then fry for a few mins more. Pour in the stock, add the lentils and bring to a simmer. Cook for 40 mins, stirring from time to time.
• Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Boil the potatoes for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain, then mash with the butter and milk.
• Remove the lamb mixture from the heat and use a stick blender to purée. Stir as you purée, blending down the pieces of vegetables. Spoon into 8 largish individual ramekins. Top with the mash and grated cheese. The pie can now be chilled and frozen for up to a month.
• Bake for 30 mins until the top is golden and the mince is bubbling up at the sides. (Cook from frozen at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for about 40 mins, then turn up to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 for 20-30 mins or until golden on top and piping hot in the centre.) Leave to stand for at least 10 mins before serving. Check it has cooled down sufficiently in the centre before giving it to young children.

LAD'S PETITE SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 12 cup mini muffin pan with Pam,or a nonstick spray. Place wonton wrapper into the muffin pan, and press it into the bottom and sides. Set aside. Heat a skillet to medium heat,add oil and onion and cook until softened, 3 - 4 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high. Add beef, garlic,salt and pepper. Cook and crumble for 4 - 5 minutes, until beef is fully cooked. Drain any excess liquid from the skillet. Evenly distribute beef mixture among the wontons in the muffin cups, about 1 T. each. Top each with 1 T. gravy. Evenly distribute frozen veggies among the cups, about 2 T. each, followed by the potatoes, about 1 T. each. Bake in the oven until the tops are slightly crispy and brown, about 15 minutes.

BEEF-AND-LAMB SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water by 1 inch and season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the leeks are soft but not browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer half of the leeks to a large bowl and set aside.
• Add the beef and lamb to the skillet with the remaining leeks. Cook over medium heat, breaking up the meat, until no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Pour off any excess fat from the skillet; season the meat with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Stir the carrots, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and thyme into the meat. Clear a space in the middle of the skillet and add the tomato paste. Cook the tomato paste, stirring, until slightly darkened, about 1 minute, then stir into the meat mixture. Pour in the stout and simmer until slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a simmer.
• Cook, stirring, until the carrots are almost tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the peas; reduce the heat to low and let simmer while you mash the potatoes.
• Drain the potatoes and let cool slightly. Transfer to the bowl with the reserved leeks; add the butter, half-and-half and 1/2 teaspoon salt and mash well. Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar.
• Spread the meat mixture in a 3-quart baking dish. Dollop the mashed potatoes on top, then spread with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar. Bake until bubbling around the edges and the topping is browned in spots, about 25 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
• You can assemble any of these dishes up to 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate, then add about 10 minutes to the baking time.

NO-FUSS SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a medium saucepan, then soften 1 chopped onion and 2-3 chopped carrots for a few mins.
• When soft, turn up the heat, crumble in 500g lamb mince and brown, tipping off any excess fat.
• Add 2 tbsp tomato purée and a large splash of Worcestershire sauce, then fry for a few mins.
• Pour over 500ml beef stock, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 40 mins, uncovering halfway.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, then make the mash. Boil the 900g potato, cut into chunks, in salted water for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain, then mash with 85g butter and 3 tbsp milk.
• Put the mince into an ovenproof dish, top with the mash and ruffle with a fork. The pie can now be chilled and frozen for up to a month.
• Bake for 20-25 mins until the top is starting to colour and the mince is bubbling through at the edges. (To bake from frozen, cook at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot in the centre. Flash under the grill to brown, if you like.)
• Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving.

MINI SHEPHERD'S PIE-SO GOOD!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Spray a 12-count muffin pan with cooking spray. Mold biscuits to the shape of each muffin cup. Par-bake biscuits for 6 to 8 minutes until light golden. Remove from oven and set aside. You will probably need to smash them down with the back of a spoon.
• Heat the 2 tbls. oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and brown. Stir in the onions, salt, pepper and garlic and allow to cook together for a couple of minutes.
• Mix flour into the meat mixture and stir until a paste consistency is reached. Add beef stock to pan and stir in vegetables and herbs, the last few minutes, until combined.
• Reheat mashed potatoes in a microwave for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in granulated garlic and onion powder.
• Spoon equal amounts (approximately 2 tablespoons) of warm potatoes on the bottoms of each par-baked biscuit. Then top with equal amounts of beef mixture (approximately 2 tablespoons). Finally top with equal amounts of Cheddar cheese.
• Return to oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before popping individual pies out with a knife. Enjoy!