Everybody knows about Shepherd’s Pie. I hope. ๐ I really like this dish and when I have first eaten it, I didn’t know what to expect. I discovered a very tasty and homey food. It makes me smile just talking about it. That is why I have made it several times and I would do it again, on a freezing winter day. It goes very well with boiled vegetables and a red wine. And a warm heart. ๐
Shepherd’s Pie
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 115 g (4 oz) mushrooms, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 500 g (1 1/4 lb) lean chuck steak, minced (ground)
- 150 ml (1/4 pt) red wine
- 150 ml (1/4 pt) beef stock (if you don’t want to use wine, just put 300 ml of beef stock ย or water)
- bay leaf
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2-3 dashes Tabasco sauce
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp tomato purรฉe (paste)
- 675 g (1 1/2 lb) potatoes, boiled
- 25 g (1 oz) butter
- 3 tbsp hot milk
- 5 medium tomatoes, sliced
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
- salt
- pepper
Method:
- Heat the oil in a saucepan or big pan, add the onion, carrot,mushrooms ย and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned. Stir the beef into the pan and cook, stirring to break up the lumps, until lightly browned.
- Blend a few spoonfuls of the stock or water with the flour, then stir this mixture into the pan. Stir in the remaining stock or water and wine, and bring to a simmer, stirring. Add the bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, tomato purรฉe (paste), the cover and cook very gently for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Uncover the pan towards the end of cooking to allow any excess water to evaporate, if necessary.
- Preheat the oven toย 190 ยฐC, 375 ยฐF, Gas Mark 5.
- Put the potatoes in a pan with water, to boil, until very tender. Drain then mash with the butter, milk and seasoning.
- Add the tarragon and seasoning to the mince in the pan, then pour into a pie dish or baking dish.Top with a layer of sliced tomatoes, then an even layer of potato. Mark the top with the prongs of a fork.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, until golden brown.
Bon appetite!