Fragrant Shepherds Pie With Apricots Recipes

THANKFUL SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Place a rack on the top of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Press the dough into a pie plate, prick the bottom of the crust with a fork and flute the edges. Bake the crust until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally until they are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in 1 cup of the gravy and the milk, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the turkey, carrots, corn, peas, parsley, thyme, oregano, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, making sure all of the ingredients are evenly coated with the gravy. Simmer until the mixture is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the mixture, making sure the potato layer meets the edges of the crust. Cover the potatoes with the cheese. Bake the pie until the top is golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
• To serve, cut into slices and drizzle with gravy.

FRAGRANT SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Brown the lamb in batches in a large, deep frying pan (there's no need to add oil). Once each batch is browned, transfer it to a sieve and pour off the excess fat from the pan before cooking the next batch. Set aside the browned mince and wipe out the pan with some kitchen paper. Whizz the onions, ginger, garlic and spices together in a food processor until finely chopped and a little pulpy (you can add a drop of water if you need to), then tip into the same pan with the oil. Cook over a medium heat for 5-6 mins until the onion is softened and the spices become fragrant.
• Return the meat to the pan along with the chopped tomatoes and purée, honey and the stock. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 1 hr, adding the apricots after 30 mins. The lamb and apricots should be tender, and the sauce thickened; if it's a little wet still, simmer, uncovered, for another 10 mins. Remove from the heat, stir in the coriander leaves and season well.
• While the lamb is cooking, prepare the potato topping. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 mins until tender. Once cooked, drain well and mash with the butter, seasoning and enough milk to give you a creamy consistency.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Tip the lamb mixture into a large ovenproof dish and pile the mash roughly over. (It helps if you start from the edges and work your way towards the middle.) If you're making ahead, cool then freeze the pie at this point, uncovered. Once frozen, cover with cling film and use within 1 month, defrosting thoroughly before reheating.
• Bake for 40 mins from warm, or for 1 hr from cold, until the topping is beginning to brown and the filling is hot. If you like, scatter with some toasted cumin seeds to serve.

FRAGRANT SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Brown the lamb in batches in a large, deep frying pan (there's no need to add oil). Once each batch is browned, transfer it to a sieve and pour off the excess fat from the pan before cooking the next batch.
• Set aside the browned meat and wipe out the pan with some kitchen paper.
• Whizz the onions, ginger, garlic and spices together in a food processor until finely chopped and a little pulpy (you can add a drop of water if you need to), then tip into the same pan with the oil.
• Cook over a medium heat for 5-6 mins until the onion is softened and the spices become fragrant.
• Return the meat to the pan along with the chopped tomatoes and paste, honey and the broth. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 1 hr, adding the apricots after 30 minutes
• The lamb and apricots should be tender, and the sauce thickened; if it's a little wet still, simmer, uncovered, for another 10 minutes Remove from the heat, stir in the cilantro leaves and season well.
• While the lamb is cooking, prepare the potato topping. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 mins until tender. Once cooked, drain well and mash with the butter, seasoning and enough milk to give you a creamy consistency.
• Heat oven to 400°F Tip the lamb mixture into a large ovenproof dish and pile the mash roughly over. (It helps if you start from the edges and work your way towards the middle.) If you're making ahead, cool then freeze the pie at this point, uncovered. Once frozen, cover with plastic wrap and use within 1 month, defrosting thoroughly before reheating.
• Bake for 40 mins from warm, or for 1 hr from cold, until the topping is beginning to brown and the filling is hot. If you like, scatter with some toasted cumin seeds to serve.

RUTH REICHL APRICOT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar. When melted, remove from the heat. Stir in the flour and nutmeg.
• Pile the apricots into the prepared piecrust. Spread the butter mixture on top, patting it all the way to the edges.
• Bake the pie in the bottom third of the oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F. and bake 45 to 50 minutes longer, until the topping is golden brown and the apricots are very tender. Cover loosely with foil if the top is getting too brown. Let cool on a rack.

VEGETARIAN SHEPHERD'S PIE II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, combine 1 1/4 cups broth, yeast extract, lentils and barley. Simmer for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine remaining 3/4 cup broth, carrot, onion and walnuts; cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash.
• Combine flour and water and stir into carrot mixture; simmer until thickened. Combine carrot mixture with lentil mixture and season with salt and pepper. Pour mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish. Spoon mashed potatoes over lentil mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned on top, about 30 minutes.