My Version Of Shepherds Pie Recipes

VEGAN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Combine the potatoes and garlic in a medium saucepan and cover with 2 inches of water. Season generously with salt and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and then drain the potatoes. Return the potatoes and garlic to the saucepan and mash with a potato masher. Add 1/2 cup of the cooking water and the 1/3 cup olive oil and stir to combine. If needed, stir in more water until the potatoes are a spreadable consistency. Stir in the chives and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and set the mashed potatoes aside.
• Pulse the mushrooms in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper and cook until all the moisture from the mushrooms has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato paste is a bit darker, about 3 minutes. Stir in the broth, followed by the peas and carrots and bring to a simmer, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, dollop all over with the mashed potatoes and spread the potatoes into an even layer with the back of a spoon or a spatula. Bake until golden on top and bubbling around the edges, about 25 minutes.

MY VERSION OF SHEPHERD'S PIE......

Steps:

• Combine the herbs and grind in a mortar (If you don't have a mortar and pestle, sort of crush them into your palm with your thumb, but be careful with the rosemary, it's pointy!).
• Boil potatoes until cooked through.
• Drain; mash or rice the potatoes.
• Add the butter and stir until the butter has melted.
• Add the heavy/sour cream.
• Stir until the potatoes are very smooth.
• In a frying pan, heat the bacon fat until hot but not smoking.
• Add the carrot, onion, and celery, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are tender.
• Add the ground beef and cook over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until browned.
• Skim off all the fat but reserve any juices.
• Sprinkle the flour over the beef and cook, stirring, until the flour has dissolved.
• Add the beef stock, peas (I use the whole can, you may want to use less), rosemary and thyme, and a pinch each of the cloves and nutmeg.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.
• Turn the meat mixture into a 1 1/2 qt casserole, and even the mixture out with a rubber spatula.
• Gently spoon the potatoes over the top and smooth with a rubber spatula, using gentle sweeping motions.
• Sprinkle a little heavy cream over the top and bake in a 400 degree F oven for about 1/2 hour to heat through.
• The cream should brown over the potatoes.
• Serve warm.

...VS. MOM'S VERSION OF SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes until cooked through.
• Save 1 cup of the potato water.
• Drain potatoes and mash or rice them.
• Add the butter and stir until the butter is melted.
• Add enough water to make the potatoes smooth and fluffy.
• In a frying pan, brown the beef; drain.
• Return the meat to the pan and add both cans of corn, cooking over medium heat until cooked through.
• Pour the beef mixture into a 1.5 qt casserole dish.
• Smooth the mixture using a rubber spatula.
• Spoon the potatoes over the beef mixture.
• Smooth over with a rubber spatula.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper over the top, to taste.
• Bake in a 400 F oven until heated through, about 30 minutes, then turn on the broiler and remove the casserole just as the potatoes start to brown.

AMERICAN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lightly grease a 2 quart baking dish.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir and cook ground beef, onion and celery until juices run clear. Drain. Pour mixture into baking dish with vegetable soup and thyme; stir well. Spread mashed potatoes on top.
• Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted.