Nonnas 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.

NANA'S SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Brown ground beef and onion in skillet;drain.
• Boil, mash and season potatoes.
• Cook peas and carrots (you could also use canned peas and carrots if you wish).
• Bake pie crust according to package directions.
• Blend in soup with meat and onion.
• Layer ground meat in pie shell, if adding cheese put on top of meat layer then add vegetables and top with mashed potatoes.
• Place pie in preheated oven and bake until heated through.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 200C/400°F.
• Saute carrots in the olive oil until starting to get tender.
• Add in the onions and saute for a minute or two then add the meat.
• Season with black pepper and thyme.
• Cook until browned then drain fat.
• Add the butter and peas.
• Sprinkle with flour and stir through.
• Add tomato paste, wine and Worcestershire sauce.
• Let this reduce slightly then add the chicken stock. Allow to reduce down until you have a thick meaty gravy. Season to your taste.
• Remove from heat. Grease an oven proof dish** (9x13 works for me, as does an oval baker) with butter and add the sauce.
• Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes over top. Brush with egg and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if using.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until the potato is nice and browned on top.
• Serve as is or with some crusty bread to mop up that yummy sauce!

VEGAN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Combine the potatoes and garlic in a medium saucepan and cover with 2 inches of water. Season generously with salt and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and then drain the potatoes. Return the potatoes and garlic to the saucepan and mash with a potato masher. Add 1/2 cup of the cooking water and the 1/3 cup olive oil and stir to combine. If needed, stir in more water until the potatoes are a spreadable consistency. Stir in the chives and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and set the mashed potatoes aside.
• Pulse the mushrooms in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper and cook until all the moisture from the mushrooms has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato paste is a bit darker, about 3 minutes. Stir in the broth, followed by the peas and carrots and bring to a simmer, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, dollop all over with the mashed potatoes and spread the potatoes into an even layer with the back of a spoon or a spatula. Bake until golden on top and bubbling around the edges, about 25 minutes.

NONNA'S SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Saute uncooked beef until browned. Drain off the fat and set aside.
• (If you are using cooked leftover meat, you don't have to do anything except add it to the cooked veggie mixture.)
• In the heated oil, saute onions, mushrooms, carrots, celery, (and any other leftover veggies you intend to use) salt, pepper and a few dashes of the Worcestershire Sauce. Saute until the onion is translucent and the veggies cooked a little. Mix this with the browned meat. Set aside.
• Mashed potatoes: make as you would normal mashed potatoes adding in the butter, milk, and salt.
• Crack the egg into a small bowl and beat it. Add to the mashed potato mixture. Blend thoroughly.
• In a casserole dish that is about 9" x 13" x 4", place the meat/veggie mixture filling the bottom evenly. On top of that, add the mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with the parmesian cheese and parsley.
• Bake at 350ºF for about 25 minutes, or until the mashed potatoes are golden.

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.

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.

CHEF JOHN'S SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Place cubed potatoes and garlic in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Brown ground beef over medium heat in a skillet. Stir in flour, mixing with beef drippings.
• Add beef broth, ketchup and vegetables. Stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, until thick.
• Transfer beef mixture into an oven-proof casserole dish.
• Drain potatoes and smash them a little bit before adding 1/4 cup of grated cheese and sour cream. Mash together until smooth.
• Spoon potatoes onto the middle of the meat mixture. With a fork, spread potatoes from the center to the edges to form the top layer.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.