Easy Shepherd's Pie
I've been cooking up a storm lately, and this Easy Shepherd's Pie is a delicious result of my experiments. It's hearty and comforting - the perfect winter meal. Plus, it's packed with veggies, so you can feel good about what you're eating. And the best part? You can make it in just under two hours!
Ah, Shepherd's Pie - a true classic that warms hearts and stomachs! A delightful, filling dish that will please everyone and make sure the dinners around your table will be a tasty and a memorable one.
The key ingredient for this delicious recipe starts with beef mince and add some veggies and herbs - it’s a recipe were you can’t go wrong. To ensure your creation tastes amaaaazing, we’ve added a secret ingredient - some red wine - to make this even better.
The beauty of Shepherd's Pie is that you'll have plenty of leftovers, which can be frozen to last a few weeks. With the creamy mashed potatoes on top, and the perfect blend of cheese, no one can resist - it will be hard to stop with just one plateful!
So get ready for an easy yet tasty dinner dish, and gather everyone around your table for a genuinely unforgettable experience. Let the flavours and aromas take you to Ireland!
Bon appetit!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe
These are all the reasons I'm loving this Easy Shepherd's Pie recipe:
It's delicious: This Shepherd's Pie recipe is packed with rich flavors that come from the beef mince, vegetables, and tomato purée, and it's topped with cheesy mashed potatoes. It's a comforting and hearty meal that will make your taste buds sing.
It's easy to make: This Shepherd's Pie recipe is super easy to make, with simple ingredients that you can easily find at any supermarket. Plus, it only takes about an hour and a half to make, so it's perfect for a weeknight dinner.
It's nutritious: This Shepherd's Pie is a great way to get in your daily nutrients. It is low in sugar and high in protein, and it also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals from the vegetables. Plus, it has a lower fat content than traditional Shepherd's Pie recipes.
Easy Shepherd's Pie
I've been cooking up a storm lately, and this Easy Shepherd's Pie is a delicious result of my experiments. It's hearty and comforting - the perfect winter meal. Plus, it's packed with veggies, so you can feel good about what you're eating. And the best part? You can make it in just under two hours!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1¼kg beef mince
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 3 celery sticks, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- large glass of red wine (optional)
- 850ml beef stock
- 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- a few thyme sprigs
- 2 bay leaves
For the mash
- 1.8kg potatoes, chopped
- 225ml milk
- 25g butter
- 200g strong cheddar, grated
- freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large saucepan, warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook 1¼kg of beef mince until it is browned - you may need to do this in parts. Set the mince aside as it cooks.
- Step 2: Place the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the pan, add 2 diced onions, 3 diced carrots, and 3 diced celery stalks and gently cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
- Step 3: Finely chop 2 garlic cloves and add them with 3 tablespoons of plain flour and 1 tablespoon of tomato purée. Turn up the heat and cook for several minutes before returning the beef to the pan.
- Step 4: Reduce a large glass of red wine, if desired, by boiling before adding 850ml of beef stock, 4 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, some sprigs of thyme, and two bay leaves.
- Step 5: Heat on low until it simmers, then cook uncovered for 45 mins. By this time the sauce should be thick and coating the meat. Check after around 30 mins – if there is a large amount of liquid still, turn up the heat a bit to reduce the gravy. Add your desired amount of seasoning, then throw away the bay leaves and thyme stalks.
- Step 6: Boil the potatoes that you have peeled and chopped in a large saucepan filled with salted cold water. Simmer them until they become tender.
- Step 7: Dump the contents of the strainer and let the mixture sit for a few moments. Thoroughly mix in the 225ml of milk, 25g of butter, and three-quarters of the 200g of sharp cheddar cheese. Add some freshly-grated nutmeg, plus a dash of salt and pepper.
- Step 8: Divide the meat among two oven-safe dishes. Top with the mashed potatoes and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Step 9: Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the topping turns golden.
- Step 10: To prepare your 'ingredients' in a slow cooker, brown the mince in batches and then place it in the slow cooker with the vegetables, flour, purée, wine, stock, Worcestershire sauce, herbs and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cover and cook on High for 4-5 hours. Next, make the mash according to the first steps and bake in the oven to finish it off.
