Shepherd's Pie, Made Easy

By danand

Ingredients

• For the potato topping:
• 2 pounds potatoes, such as russet, peeled and cubed
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese (or sour cream)
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 cup 1% milk (or heavy cream for richer flavor)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• For the filling:
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
• 1 3/4 pounds ground beef or ground lamb*
• NOTE: The combo of ground lamb and beef is how we love this casserole
• 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons thyme (fresh or dried)
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• For the gravy:
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup beef stock or broth
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire, eyeball it
• NOTE: I recommend doubling the gravy
• 1/2 to 1 cup frozen peas, a couple of handfuls
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from foodiewife-kitchen.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl.

Combine cream cheese (or sour cream), egg yolk and milk (or heavy cream). Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.

While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef and/or lamb.

Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings.

Add chopped carrot* and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
NOTE:*by finely chopping the carrots, they will cook a little faster.
Add the thyme.
OPTIONAL Add the tomato paste, which gives the meat filling a richer flavor.

In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.

Preheat broiler to high.

Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly.

Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve.