Marks Springtime Shepherds Pie Food

SPRING SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a pan on stovetop, heat oil and butter; add onions and garlic; saute until softened; add mushrooms, cook until liquid is released.
• Season with salt, pepper, parsley and tarragon.
• Add asparagus; cook until crisp tender; add peas; stir until cooked through; remove from heat.
• In a 2 quart casserole, add cooked lamb and vegetables; add gravy; stir to coat; top with a layer of mashed potatoes; dot with 1 tablespoon butter.
• Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes; remove from oven.
• Preheat broiler.
• Sprinkle casserole with grated parmesan cheese; place under broiler 2-4 minutes until top browns.
• Cool 10 minutes, slice and serve.

MY MOTHER'S SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• For the potatoes: Peel and cube the potatoes into a 1-inch dice. Put in a large pot and add enough cold water to cover the potatoes by 1 inch. Season the water with salt and bring to a boil. Boil the potatoes until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and pass through a ricer. Add the milk, sour cream, melted butter and egg yolks to the potatoes and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and reserve.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. In a medium sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the pearl onions and cook, shaking the pan occasionally so the onions brown on all sides, until caramelized, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large shallow ovenproof braising pan, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and rosemary and cook, stirring often, until the onions are slightly browned and soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the lamb and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the lamb is cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste, flour and sherry vinegar and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, peas and carrots and pearl onions and bring to a boil. Spoon off any excess fat. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the parsley.
• Top the lamb mixture with an even layer of the potatoes. For the topping: Drizzle the potatoes with the melted butter and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Transfer to the oven and bake until the potatoes are lightly browned, about 40 minutes. Garnish with additional parsley.