Mouth-watering ground lamb and vegetables blanketed in a layer of creamy mashed potatoes – what more could you want? Maybe seconds!
Irish shepherd’s pie is a traditional dish with minced lamb and mashed potatoes. It differs from cottage pie, which uses minced beef instead of the lamb. Of course, either dish will please a hungry crowd, but let’s focus on this mouth-watering recipe.
You don’t need St. Patrick’s Day or any other holiday to prepare a dish as delicious and comforting as Irish shepherd’s pie. Go ahead and make it anytime the craving for meat and potatoes strikes. Good things always stand the test of time, and this dish that dates back to the 18th century is proof.
Why I Love This Recipe for Shepherd’s Pie
There are plenty of recipes on the internet for this dish, but many of them feature Guinness or stout – two things I cannot have as I am gluten-free. Being gluten-free does not prevent me from writing about amazing recipes, but when I make them at home, I often edit to feature ingredients I can have, such as substituting gluten-free beer, flour, and Worcestershire sauce. Besides, I love lamb so much that I never want other flavors to overpower it.
Also, if you have family members who can’t have dairy, you’ll notice that the only dairy is in the mashed potatoes. You can make mashed potatoes as you usually would and use that to top this pie for a dairy-free dish. If you’ve never made DF mashed potatoes, you can substitute a vegan buttery spread, dairy-free milk, and unsweetened plain coconut yogurt to get the consistency and taste you like.
The Secret to Making Shepherd’s Pie Look Elegant
If you are a fan of cooking shows, like I am, you have probably seen someone pipe mashed potatoes as part of a recipe. While many home cooks spoon the potatoes over the meat and smooth it with a spatula, take out a piping bag, and tip if you want to get fancy. The tip you choose will determine the look of your piping. An extra-large star will create a dazzling effect with your potatoes. Remember that you need a larger tip because potatoes are thicker than icing.
The final step in creating an elegant look for your pie is to drizzle olive oil over the mashed potatoes or brush them with melted butter. Either option will help achieve a light golden brown crust.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground lamb
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prep time – 30 minutes
Cooking time – 45 minutes
Yields – 8 servings
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F.
Step 2: In a large skillet, heat a bit of oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until soft.
Step 3: Add the ground lamb, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned.
Step 4: Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
Step 5: Sprinkle flour over the meat and stir. Add beef broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Step 6: Stir in the frozen peas and carrots. Remove from heat.
Step 7: For the mashed potatoes: Boil the potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
Step 8: Add milk, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the potatoes. Mash until smooth.
Step 9: Spread the meat mixture in a baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, smoothing the surface.
Step 10: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden and the edges are bubbling.
Step 11: Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
How to Make Ahead and Store
You can prepare your shepherd’s pie the day before baking, storing it well-covered in the refrigerator. Let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, uncover the dish, and bake it as directed. Leftovers will last in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Serving Suggestions
One of the best features of this dish is that it’s a complete meal – protein, veggies, and starch. You don’t need anything else with it, except maybe a salad and some bread. Irish Soda Bread is the perfect choice to accompany Irish shepherd’s pie. It provides a terrific crust to go with this delectable meal.
Since no dinner is complete without dessert, why not continue the theme with this decadent Baileys Irish Cream Cake? Add a cup of Irish coffee, and you have the perfect end to a fantastic meal.
Irish Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground lamb
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 2 pounds russet potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a large skillet, heat a bit of oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until soft.
- Add the ground lamb, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned.
- Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over the meat and stir. Add beef broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the frozen peas and carrots. Remove from heat.
- For the mashed potatoes: Boil the potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
- Add milk, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the potatoes. Mash until smooth.
- Spread the meat mixture in a baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, smoothing the surface.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden and the edges are bubbling.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Question, what size baking dish do yo use?
Hi Betty, I used a 9 × 13-inch baking dish. Enjoy!