Description
Ina Garten’s shepherd’s pie combines hearty ground lamb with rich vegetables and creamy mashed potato topping. Comforting layers of flavor create a classic British dish perfect for family dinners and chilly nights you’ll savor until the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ lb cremini mushrooms (quartered)
- 3 tbsps (45 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 ½ lbs (680 grams) russet potatoes (peeled and quartered)
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) whole milk
- 2 tbsps (30 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 3 medium carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 1 rib celery (sliced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsps (45 grams) tomato paste
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) canned low-sodium beef broth
- 6 tbsps (85 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp (15 grams) kosher salt
- 2 tsps kosher salt
- ¾ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan (optional)
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Vegetable Preparation: Sauté onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and garlic in olive oil and butter over medium heat until tender and slightly caramelized, incorporating oregano and half the kosher salt.
- Flavor Development: Add tomato paste and cook to intensify the flavor profile, then introduce ground beef, breaking it apart until fully cooked.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, remaining salt, and black pepper into the skillet, allowing the mixture to simmer and meld together thoroughly.
- Potato Base Creation: Boil peeled russet potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, then drain and return to the pan, gently tossing to eliminate moisture.
- Creamy Potato Topping: Warm milk and butter, then pour over potatoes, mashing until slightly chunky and incorporating fresh parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Layering and Assembly: Transfer meat mixture to a casserole dish, spread evenly, and top with mashed potatoes, creating a smooth layer with a small border around the edge.
- Optional Enhancement: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the potato layer for additional depth of flavor.
- Baking and Resting: Bake in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 40 minutes until the potato topping turns golden brown and the filling bubbles, then rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
Notes
- Meat Selection Tip: Choose lean ground beef with 85% lean and 15% fat for optimal flavor and texture without excessive greasiness.
- Vegetable Caramelization Trick: Sauté vegetables slowly to develop deep, rich flavors that enhance the overall taste of the shepherd’s pie.
- Potato Moisture Management: Gently toss potatoes over low heat after draining to remove excess water, ensuring a creamy yet light mashed potato topping.
- Resting Period Importance: Let the dish rest for 10 minutes after baking to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier, preventing the filling from becoming too runny.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg