Name: Lamb Shepherd's Pie with Mashed Potatoes
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 1 baking dish
Ingredients: 500 g ground lamb; 1 pc onion; 2 pcs carrot; 2 pcs celery; 2 cloves garlic; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 200 ml beef broth; 100 g frozen peas; olive oil; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 pinch black pepper; 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon thyme; 800 g potatoes; 2 l water; 1 teaspoon salt; 80 g butter; 100 ml milk; 1 pinch nutmeg

Step by step process

Preparation

1
For this shepherds pie, peel the potatoes and cut them into large chunks (about 3-4 cm). Prepare a pot of cold salted water.
2
Peel and dice the onion, carrot, and celery into small cubes. Finely chop the garlic and have everything ready.

Cooking

3
Put the potatoes into the cold salted water, bring to a boil, and cook until tender for 18-22 minutes (check with a fork - the potatoes should pierce easily).
4
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and saute for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables soften and the onion becomes translucent.
5
Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then add the minced lamb. Break up the meat with a spoon and brown it until most of the liquid has evaporated.
6
Stir in the tomato paste and fry briefly for 1-2 minutes, then pour in the stock. Season with salt and pepper, add Worcestershire sauce and thyme. Cover and simmer over low heat for 8-12 minutes to meld the flavors.
7
Finally, stir in the frozen peas and cook for another 2-3 minutes until heated through.
8
Drain the potatoes, return them to the pot, and mash with butter and warm milk until smooth. Season with salt and grate in nutmeg to taste.
TIP:
Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt it. Blanch the peas for 1-2 minutes, drain and cool in cold water. Let them drain, then stir into the mixture. You'll get better color, texture, and flavor.

Baking

9
Preheat the oven to 200 °C (180 °C fan).
10
Spread the meat and vegetables evenly into a baking dish or casserole. Top with the mashed potatoes in an even layer so they fully cover the meat.
11
Use a fork to create a light pattern on the surface for a crispier crust and optionally brush the top with melted butter.
12
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden. For a quicker, more pronounced crust, turn on the grill for the last 2-3 minutes.

Serving

13
Let the shepherds pie rest for about 10 minutes after removing it from the oven so the juices settle and the portions slice more cleanly.
14
Cut into portions and serve warm, ideally with a fresh green salad or steamed vegetables.