Shepherd's Pie I Made It Ii

Shepherd's Pie

Cosmicmother 5 years ago
~Made for March 2019's Irish Food recipe challenge~

Shepherds Pie by Canned_Food_Fan

I think if you ask anyone in Ireland what a quintessential Irish dish is the majority would say Shepherd's pie. It's my understanding that the Irish always make it with beef while the Brit's make it with lamb.
I spent a lot of time looking at different recipes over the last two weeks, trying to find a pie that had beef, something tomato-y in the beef mixture, and a topping with a little bit of cheese. And I finally settled on this recipe as I loved the sound of the mash! However, I'm not a fan of canned vegetables like Canned_Food_Fan is!
So, I used fresh carrots instead of the canned called for in the beef mixture and made the mashed potatoes with freshly boiled potatoes. I doubled the recipe and baked it in a 9x13" casserole dish. (Baked for 15 minutes longer)
For the doubled recipe I used 3 diced carrots and added some water while cooking the mixture, just eyeballed it, since the can of carrots has water-- and the mixture needed it. Instead of parsley I used peas for the green colour and I love peas in Shepherds pie! Also added salt and pepper to the beef mixture. I thought about adding garlic and other spices but the nutmeg and onion in the potato topping gives it such great flavor so I am glad I didn't.
For the doubled potato topping I used 6 mostly large, boiled potatoes. And followed the doubled amount of milk and green onions which was perfect. The only thing I didn't follow was the amount of nutmeg. I wouldn't use a 1/4 tsp even in the doubled potato topping--too much I think--so I just used a few dashes--probably a pinch or two. I absolutely loved the mashed potatoes, and the flavour together with the beef mixture was awesome!!
I topped it with grated Irish Cheddar (1/4 cup), a little goes a long way! The whole family loved it and we managed to finish the whole casserole in one sitting, so thankfully I doubled it! ;)
(first pic is before adding cheese and baking)
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DIZ3 5 years ago said:

Fantastic photos, Cosmicmother! My mouth is watering! I would love to have this for dinner. I couldn't agree with you more about canned vegetables. Fresh is definitely better. Peas are a must. If Don were around, he'd be happy to explain Shepherd Pie etiquette. lol! The way I understand it is that Shepherd's pie is made with lamb. If you use beef then it's called Cottage Pie. Whenever I've searched for Shepherd's pie recipes, I mostly find ones that call for beef. So confusing!

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Cosmicmother 5 years ago said:

Thanks Diz! Lol, I know--it gets confusing! I was reading a blog by an Irish ex-pat the other day saying that they don't eat cabbage and corned beef as much as we think they do, and that they usually eat Shepard's pie on St.Patrick's Day--and that the Irish use beef while the Brit's use lamb. But they don't use the term Cottage pie, I guess that's only in England and Scotland! ;) .....Whatever it's called, it's delicious! :D

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LindaLMT 5 years ago said:

Lovely photo Shona! The recipe looks good too except I too would use fresh vegetables instead of canned. Shepherd's pie is one of my favorites yet I'm too lazy to make it.

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Cosmicmother 5 years ago said:

Thanks Linda!
The great thing about Shepherd's pie is you can make it in stages. You can make the meat mixture well in advance and chill. Then make the mash and top the meat mixture later on. And refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Lol, but I don't blame you , it requires some food-prep and a lot of dirty dishes! ;)

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DIZ3 5 years ago said:

Cosmicmother, I'll bet we read the same article. In Ireland it's called "St. Paddy's Day" not "St. Patty's Day." I think lamb makes more sense for Shepherd's pie because a shepherd is a sheep herder. Technical terms have become blurred over the years. Aside from GR friends, I really don't know anyone that eats lamb or has even tried it other than my family. You won't find it in the grocery stores here. If you have a recipe that calls for lamb, you have to substitute beef. My sister has been buying lamb from a local farmer and gave us some to try. We loved it! Now I get all of our meat from a local independent butcher. He raises his own cattle, butchers it, and it all goes into a freezer. He gets lambs and pigs from local farmers. It's fun to go in the store and snoop through the freezer looking for different cuts of meat.

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eastcoaster 5 years ago said:

Hello Shona, another beautiful photo and delicious looking Shepherds Pie YUM!!!!
I also agree about the fresh vegetables, i would use them to. Bookmarked.
DIZ, it is called St. Paddy's Day here also:)))

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LindaLMT 5 years ago said:

That's a great idea Shona! Thanks. Daaaa, didn't even think to make it in stages. If I were to freeze it would it then be cooked from frozen or thawed?

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Cosmicmother 5 years ago said:

Linda, I'd thaw it overnight then bake. :)

Thanks Manella! I bet St.Paddy's day is a bigger deal in Atlantic Canada! :)

Diz, my family loves lamb! But I never see ground lamb, only chops and legs etc...I'm surrounded by lamb and other animal farms and can get it readily here. We have a lamb processing plant down the road. They butcher the good stuff for human consumption and cook the remainder for dog food. On the cook days it smells like chicken soup outside, yum, but when it goes to the pet food plant next door and bake the kibble-- it smells awful, Lol.....My Grandma is from Cornwall Eng. and my Mom grew up on lamb and mutton (they lived on a Farm near to where I live now when they came to Canada). My Hubby and son love it but it's so rich I rarely cook it anymore, unless my MIL comes over or it's a special occasion. ;)

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eastcoaster 5 years ago said:

Shona, Sobeys carries ground lamb, and other parts.I only know that because our daughter likes it. When ever i'm at the store i look to see if it's on sale for her.

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Cosmicmother 5 years ago said:

Maybe that's where all the ground lamb goes, Lol! ;) :) Thanks Manella, I'll have a look next time I'm there. :)

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mommyluvs2cook 5 years ago said:

My husband absolutely loves Shepard's Pie, but I haven't made it in forever lol. Good call on using fresh veggies Shona, I don't know if I've ever even had canned potatoes, and don't think I'd ever like too! Wonderful pictures :) :)

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Cosmicmother 5 years ago said:

Thanks Michelle! I've bought canned sweet potatoes, when I used to make my dog's food, I don't think I've ever seen canned white potatoes; but I've never looked for them either. Perhaps they're a step up from dehydrated potatoes. ;)

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DIZ3 5 years ago said:

Cosmicmother--Canned potatoes are yucky. To me they have a metal tin can taste. Even home canned potatoes taste bad to me because I think they have a "dirt" taste. When it comes to potatoes, fresh is the only way I go.

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Ladybug_MrsJ 5 years ago said:

Beautiful golden crust!

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