The Supreme 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.

THE SUPREME SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place roast beef in an even layer in bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Cover with sliced onions, then gravy. Spread mashed potatoes over top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, until potatoes are browned.

SHEPHERD'S PIE (THE REAL THING!)

Steps:

• Use 1/2 a can of Guiness Stout to marinade ground lamb. Leave covered in fridge for at least 1 hr and if possible overnight.
• In a hot pan, put in olive oil and add mince lamb to brown. Strain cooked mince with a big sieve, separating meat & juice.
• Reheat same pan, add more olive oil and now saute & brown diced onions, garlic and carrot till fragrant and translucent.
• Add the cooked mince into this pan and mix well.
• Add dried marjoram, rosemary and thyme and mix well.
• Pour left over juice from the mince into the pan and add all the Worcestershire sauce and half of the English parsley and stir well.
• Cook on low heat for 20 mins and when it starts bubbling, add in flour to thicken the mixture.
• Add salt & pepper to taste.
• Cook potatoes in salted water till soft enough to mash.
• Strain potatoes and mash with a big knob of salted butter, cream and milk (totally full fat!). Season with salt, pepper and a dash of nutmeg powder.
• Pour cooked mince mixture in a big enough pyrex dish.
• Layer the mash potato on top and seal the edges.
• Bake or brown in oven for 20 to 30 mins at 180 degrees celsius.
• Serve with a side of boiled cabbage & carrots with lots of butter and sprinkle leftover English parsley!