Time: 1 hour 20 min.
Complexity: easily
Servings: 12

Shepherd's pie is a comforting, home-cooked dish typically enjoyed with family. However, if served properly, it can also be a wonderful holiday treat. Served in individual ramekins with mashed potatoes beautifully piped from a pastry bag, shepherd's pie looks very presentable, just like it would be served at a restaurant.

Ingredients:

Stew

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 2 medium carrots, cut into 1cm pieces.
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 900 g of ground beef
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp. l. chopped parsley
• 1 cup frozen green peas, do not defrost
• Special equipment: eight ramekins for baking, capacity 180-240 ml.

Mashed potatoes

• 900 g potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 110 g unsalted butter
• 1 cup grated sharp cheddar

Substituting ingredients
Measuring containers used

1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.

Recipes with similar ingredients

ground beef, cheddar cheese, cream, potato, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, thyme, celery

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Preparation:

Step 1
• Stew:
  
  In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion and celery are softened, 2 minutes. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring and breaking up any lumps, for about 5 minutes.
Step 2
• Add the tomato paste, then sprinkle the flour evenly over the meat mixture; stir to coat. Add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the parsley and green peas, and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
Step 3
• Mashed potatoes:
  
  Place the potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with cold water to a depth of 2 inches and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are easily pierced with a knife, 20–25 minutes. Drain, then press the potatoes through a potato masher and return them to the dry saucepan.
Step 4
• In the microwave or a small saucepan, heat the cream with the butter and a pinch of salt. Pour it into the mashed potatoes and mix well until the mixture is very smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cheddar.
Step 5
• Shepherd's pie:
  
  Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Divide the stew evenly among eight ramekins. Place the ramekins on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip and pipe the mashed potatoes onto the stew in the ramekins. Bake until the potatoes are golden brown and the stew is bubbling, about 20 minutes.

Votes: 1

Author of the recipe - Patricia Heaton is an American actress, comedian, and producer.