Shepherd’s Pie comes to us from England, and is traditionally made with lamb or mutton. Now that’s the traditional way of making it. However, I do make it using chicken mince too. So the recipe I am sharing here today is with chicken mince. But this same recipe can be used for making a Shepherd’s Pie using mutton or lamb mince too!
Regardless of what you call it, a shepherd’s pie is basically a casserole with a layer of cooked meat and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven until the mashed potatoes are well browned.
When you dig in you get a spoonful of mashed potatoes, some crispy bits, meat, and vegetables all in one bite. It’s pure comfort food. You can have it as is or serve it with some toasted bread on the side.
Shepherd’s Pie
Course: MainCuisine: EnglandDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes30
minutes40
minutesThe Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie made using ground chicken with vegetables in a rich gravy, topped with cheesy mashed potatoes, and baked.
Ingredients
- For the meat mix
Butter – 2 tbsp
Minced chicken/mutton – 500 gms
Salt and Pepper – as per taste
Garlic – 5-6 cloves, finely chopped
Onion – 1 medium, finely chopped
Green Peas – ½ cup
Carrot – 1 medium, cut in to small cubes
Tomato Puree – ¼ cup
Vinegar – ½ tbsp
Soy Sauce – 2 tbsp
Tomato Ketchup – 1 tbsp
Sugar – ½ tsp
All Purpose Flour – 1 tbsp
Water – ½ cup
- For the potato topping
Potatoes – 4 medium size, boiled and peeled
Milk – ½ cup
Grated Cheese (Processed/Mozzarella) – 2 tbsp
Salt – as per taste
Directions
- Preheat oven at 220C for 15 min.
- Heat butter in a pan. Add the chicken mince, salt and pepper to it and saute till all the water released from the mince has evaporated and the meat starts browning a little.
- Add the garlic and onion and cook till the onions turn translucent. Add the green peas, carrot, tomato puree, vinegar, soy sauce and tomato ketchup and cook till the sauces are well cooked and there is no raw smell of the tomato puree.
- At this stage, add the sugar and mix well. Next, add the flour and saute till the flour is coated on the meat. Add the water and cook till the gravy really thickens. Add this mix to the bottom of a 7- or 8-inch glass dish.
- To make the potato topping, mash the potatoes well. Bring the milk to a simmer in a saucepan and then slowly add the potatoes while you keep whisking after every addition.
- Once all the potato is added to the milk, add the cheese and salt and mix well. Turn off the heat.
- Spread the potato mix on top of the meat mix evenly.
- Use a fork and make some design on top of the potato mix. Bake this for 15-20 min at 220C till the top browns a little.
- Serve this hot with a side of some toast.
