Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is a traditional English dish made with minced meat and mashed potatoes. Other ingredients include carrots, peas and other vegetables. For improved tastes herbs like rosemary and oregano are used on top of cheese that is sprinkled prior to baking. Similar recipes include potato pie in New Zealand and cowboy pie in America.
Ingredients
25g/1oz dripping
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 small tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp plain flour
225ml/7 ½ fl oz chicken, beef or lamb stock
450g/1lb minced lamb
1 tsp anchovy essence
10ml/2sp Worcester sauce
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs of thyme
For the mash
700g/1 ½ lb potatoes
55ml/ 2 fl oz milk
75g/3oz butter
1 egg yolk
Cooking time: 1 to 2 hours serves: 4
Method
1. In a large non-stick casserole dish heat 1 oz of dripping. Add 1 large onion and cook for a further 5 minuets.
2. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat a little olive oil and fry the mince up evenly and cook, until browned. While the meat is frying, break up any lumps with the back of the spoon.
3. Stir the onions in the pan and add 1 tablespoon of plain flour (this helps to thicken the juices) and stir. Mix well and add 2 bay leaves, 2-3 sprigs of thyme and the anchovy essence and stir.
4. To the onion mix add the chopped tomatoes, stock (keep a little aside, for putting into the mince pan to de-glaze the pan) and Worcester sauce.
5. Add the cooked mince and then pour the stock mixture into empty mince pan, scraping off any bits of mince left in the pan. Pour the remaining stock into the pan containing the sauce mixture.
6. Bring the mixture to the boil, adding a pinch of pepper and let it simmer for about 45 minutes.
7. Boil the potatoes, sieve and put into a bowl. Add the butter and egg yolk, and mash together, season with salt and black pepper.
8. Pour the meat into an ovenproof dish and spread the mash on top, smooth over and mark with a spatula.
9. Put the dish into the oven-gas mark 6 until it is bubbling and golden.
