Description
This Deconstructed Shepherd’s Pie recipe offers a flavorful twist on the classic comfort dish, featuring a savory ground lamb or beef mixture cooked with aromatic herbs, vegetables, and a rich gravy, served over creamy mashed potatoes. It’s an easy, stovetop meal perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Units
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For the Meat Mixture
- 2 tablespoons oil (or butter)
- 1 pound ground lamb (or beef)
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 cup carrot, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour (use gluten-free flour for gluten-free option)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (gluten-free for gluten-free option)
- 1 teaspoon rosemary, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- 2 bay leaves (optional)
- 1 cup peas
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Serving
- 4 cups mashed potatoes, hot
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: Heat the oil or butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground lamb or beef and cook while breaking it apart with a spoon until fully cooked, about 7 to 10 minutes. Once cooked, set aside the meat and drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the grease to keep the mixture flavorful without excess fat.
- Cook Vegetables: In the same pan, add the diced onions and carrots. Cook over medium heat until they become tender, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning.
- Add Garlic and Tomato Paste: Stir in the chopped garlic and tomato paste. Mix well to combine the flavors before immediately sprinkling the flour over the mixture. Stir continuously to incorporate the flour and cook for about a minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Create the Sauce: Gradually pour in the beef broth, then add back the cooked meat along with Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves. Bring everything to a gentle simmer and cook until the sauce thickens nicely, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.
- Final Seasoning and Adding Peas: Remove the bay leaves from the pan. Stir in the peas and season the mixture with salt and pepper to your taste. Cook for an additional minute until the peas are warmed through.
- Serve: Spoon the hearty meat and vegetable mixture generously over hot mashed potatoes and serve immediately for a comforting and satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef for lamb depending on preference or availability.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour and Worcestershire sauce.
- Fresh herbs will provide a brighter flavor, but dried herbs work well too.
- Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper carefully after adding peas to balance flavors.
- This recipe can be doubled to serve larger groups or to have leftovers.
- Use well-seasoned mashed potatoes for better overall flavor.
