Shepherds Pie With Tater Tot Topping Food

SHEPHERD'S PIE TOPPED WITH TATER TOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400˚F
• Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high to high heat with oil, 2 turns of the pan
• When oil ripples, add meat and brown well, stirring occasionally
• Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves and season with salt and pepper
• Cook to soften vegetables, 10-12 minutes
• Stir in Worcestershire sauce and reduce heat to simmer
• In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat
• Whisk in flour, cook 1 minute then whisk in cider or beer
• Reduce by half then whisk in stock and thicken to a loose gravy
• Place meat and vegetables in a casserole dish and stir in watercress and gravy
• Top with cheddar and tots, and bake until tots are golden and crispy on top

SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH TATER TOT TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish.
• Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter has melted.
• Shred the potatoes and add to a medium bowl. Pour the butter-oil mixture over the potatoes, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir to combine. Set aside.
• In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Add the spring onions and garlic; stir, and cook until the onions are soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the chili powder.
• Add the tomatoes, beef broth and flour. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce the heat further and stir in the peas and Cheddar; cook until the cheese is melted. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
• Evenly cover the top of the casserole with the grated potato mixture and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until crisp on top and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

SHORTCUT SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Heat a large skillet over high heat for 2 minutes, then add the oil. (It will shimmer and lightly smoke; that's OK.) When you start to see wisps of smoke, crumble the ground beef evenly into the pan. Let the beef cook undisturbed until browned on one side, 3 minutes, then start breaking it up and turning it to brown any remaining pink spots, about 4 minutes more. Transfer the beef with a slotted spoon to a medium bowl; set aside.
• Turn the heat down to medium and discard all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet. Add the onions, garlic and thyme, stir to combine and cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the cooked beef, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 4 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs if using. Fold in the peas and carrots.
• Transfer the mixture to an 8-inch square casserole pan, and top with the potato tots and Cheddar. Bake until the potato tots are crisp and the meat layer is bubbling up the sides, 20 to 25 minutes.