Shepherd's Pie (Lamb and Mashed Potato Pie)
In short: Rich minced lamb with carrots, peas and thyme in a thick gravy, topped with buttery mashed potato and baked until golden. It takes about 1 h 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 25 min
- Total
- 1 h 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 550 kcal
Shepherd's pie is a British home classic of minced lamb in rich gravy with vegetables, covered in buttery mashed potato and baked until the top turns golden and crisp at the ridges. Traditionally it is made with lamb, and the beef version is called cottage pie. It is thrifty, easy to batch cook and a favorite with children. A bubbling pie straight from the oven is hard to beat on a cold evening.
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 to 20 minutes until tender. Drain, steam dry for 2 minutes, then mash with the butter, hot milk, salt and pepper until smooth.
- Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the lamb in 2 batches for 6 to 8 minutes each, breaking up the lumps, and spoon off excess fat.
- Return all the lamb to the pan with the onion, carrots and celery and cook for 8 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste for 1 minute, then sprinkle over the flour and stir for 1 minute.
- Pour in the stock and Worcestershire sauce, then add the thyme and bay leaf. Simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until thick and glossy, adding the peas for the last 5 minutes. Season well and remove the bay leaf.
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Spoon the lamb filling into a 2.5 liter (10 cup) baking dish.
- Spread the mash over the filling right to the edges and rough up the surface with a fork to make ridges.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the top is golden and the filling bubbles at the edges and reaches 71°C (160°F) in the center.
- Rest for 10 minutes before serving with green beans or extra peas.
Tips
- For cottage pie, swap the lamb for ground beef. The filling can be made a day ahead and gets better as it sits.
- For a crisper top, brush the mash with a little melted butter or scatter over grated cheddar before baking.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie?
Shepherd's pie is made with lamb, while cottage pie uses beef. The gravy-rich filling and the mashed potato topping are otherwise the same.
Can I freeze shepherd's pie?
Yes. Freeze it assembled but unbaked, or baked and cooled, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake until hot throughout.
Can I make shepherd's pie ahead of time?
Assemble it up to 24 hours ahead, then cover and chill. Bake from cold, allowing an extra 10 to 15 minutes, until bubbling hot all the way through.
How long does it take to make Shepherd's Pie (Lamb and Mashed Potato Pie)?
About 1 h 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Shepherd's Pie (Lamb and Mashed Potato Pie)?
About 550 kcal per serving, with 28 g of protein, 40 g of carbohydrates and 31 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 550 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Fat | 31 g |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
