This is topic Shepherd's Pie in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by LadyDove (Member # 3000) on :
 
I've looked on the internet and found umpteen recipes for Shepherd's Pie. The variations are HUGE. Can someone recommend a really good Shepherd's Pie recipe that they've actually tasted and loved?
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Recipe? I usually don't use one...

In case others do, do you want one with lamb ("real" Shepherd's pie) or beef (often used instead?)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
And we have some shepherd's pie peppered
With actual shepherd on top!
 

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Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
 
Try the priest!

(rivka, I love you for making me start singing Sweeney Todd.)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

 

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Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
 
My preferred variant mixes ground beef with sauteed onions, corn, a goodly amount of cinnamon, and a bullion cube. 'Tis good.
 

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Posted by anti_maven (Member # 9789) on :
 
Ah, I make a sort of potato bolagnese:

Fry up garlic and onions (quantity to taste). Add a tablespoon of 'herbes de provence' too, if only for the smell. Yum.

Add minced meat (or maybe less (beef, lamb, pekinese whatever) and brown (about 250g per head, that's about 1/2lbs I think).

Add a couple of cans of chopped tomato and a healthy squirt of tomato puree. If it's allowed, add a large glass of red wine at this stage too for lipsmacking goodness. Oh and salt and pepper too.

Mix in some mixed veggies (peas, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, whatever's to hand).

Bring to boil and simmer for about 40 minutes.

Put the lot into an oven proof dish and cover with about 2 inches of mashed potato and put in the oven until the potato starts to brown.

Bon appetit!

Sadly the priest was barbecued a week last wednesday, so we'll have to wait to try that variant. Sounds good tho'
 

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Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
 
In the past fifteen years, I have actually made my Sheperd's pie with chicken or turkey.

Think of it as "leftover pie."

First, I mix about two cups of chicken or turkey with leftover gravy, or with canned gravy. So, about a can's worth. I also mix in some thyme.

Next, I put a layer of canned corn and peas.

After that, a layer about an inch thick of mashed potatoes. When I am feeling particularly nostalgic for my grandmother's style of cooking, I dot the top with butter.

Bake at about 350 for 20-30 minutes, until there is some browning on the potatoes.


For the kind I grew up with, just brown a pound of hamburger. Mix with beef gravy if you want, and add maybe some spices. Do the same layers, same baking time, and you're in!

It is definitely something to experiment with, because you never have the exact amount of leftovers. Really, though, you can't go wrong.

Another thing that is good is to do all the layering, but use puff pastry instead of mashed potatoes, for more of a pot pie effect. I have been into the puff pastry lately.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
My favorite for leftover chicken or turkey and mashed taters is pot pie. I thin the mashed potatoes just a bit with milk or cream, to make kind of a thick cream of potato soup type thing, mix in herbs and such, mix in cubed cooked poultry and some frozen veggies (usually either mixed or peas and carrots, but whatever I've got will do), thicken or thin as needed (flour to thicken, more milk to thin), and pile high in a bottom pie crust, top with a top pie crust, and bake until golden for a very delicious, very filling "leftovers" meal.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
I rather like this recepe http://www.cookingforengineers.com/recipe/127/Shepherds-Pie-Cottage-Pie
Only I leave out the carrots and celery and only use potatoes, corn and ground beef as I can't abide eating cute little lambs.
I also like using organic beef stock as it gives it a lovely flavour

Maybe I'll make some this week.
 

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Posted by Lostinspace (Member # 11633) on :
 
I usually use this recipe with ground lamb but it says lamb or beef

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_22590_,00.html
 

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Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Elizabeth:
In the past fifteen years, I have actually made my Sheperd's pie with chicken or turkey.

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Originally posted by Elizabeth:
One thing I hate is a gourmet-ified Shepherd's Pie. Some things just need to be basic. Macaroni and cheese, chicken and biscuits, American Chop Suey. The predominant flavor should be salt.

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quote:

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Originally posted by ketchupqueen:
*giggles* Recipezaar has a Matador's Pie.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lostinspace:

quote:

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Originally posted by Elizabeth:
One thing I hate is a gourmet-ified Shepherd's Pie. Some things just need to be basic. Macaroni and cheese, chicken and biscuits, American Chop Suey. The predominant flavor should be salt.

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I actually like gourmet Mac and Cheese with Lobster!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Elizabeth:

quote:

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Originally posted by Lostinspace:

quote:

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Originally posted by Elizabeth:
One thing I hate is a gourmet-ified Shepherd's Pie. Some things just need to be basic. Macaroni and cheese, chicken and biscuits, American Chop Suey. The predominant flavor should be salt.

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I actually like gourmet Mac and Cheese with Lobster!

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Yes, but that is a different thing altogether. Macaroni and cheese is pretty much just that. Macaroni. Cheese.

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quote:

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Originally posted by ketchupqueen:
*giggles* Recipezaar has a Matador's Pie.

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That's a lot of bull.
 

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Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
I wonder what they charge for it?
 

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