The Shakespeare Taverns Shepherds Pie Recipes

THE SHAKESPEARE TAVERN'S SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In an ovenproof Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a 12-inch skillet over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and swirl to cover the pan. Sprinkle the beef pieces with salt and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, but not smoking, add half the beef and brown on all sides, then add the beef to the Dutch oven with the vegetables. Pour 1/3 cup of the white wine into the skillet and cook over high heat until it reduces by half, scraping up any of the browned bits left by the beef. Pour the reduction into the Dutch oven. Repeat the browning process with the oil and beef, and repeat the wine reduction, adding both to the Dutch oven.
• Pour 3/4 cup of the chicken broth and the Worcestershire sauce into the Dutch oven, and add half of the minced thyme and half the minced rosemary, reserving the remaining chicken broth and herbs. Stir the beef mixture well and bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Once the beef is simmering, cover the Dutch oven and put it in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.
• While the beef is cooking, start the potatoes. Boil the whole potatoes in plenty of water until the are easily pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Pour off the water and let the potatoes sit, off the heat, until they are cool enough to handle. Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the 6 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then remove from heat. Press the potatoes through a potato ricer, or peel and mash them by hand. Pour in the melted garlic butter, and beat the potatoes until they are light and fluffy. Cover and keep warm.
• After 1 1/2 hours in the oven, check the beef for tenderness - it should be just about falling apart. Stir the cornstarch into the reserved 1/4 cup of chicken broth and stir the mixture into the hot beef. Stir in the remaining minced rosemary and thyme. and continue stirring until the mixture has thickened.
• Pour the beef mixture into a 9-x13-inch baking dish . Spread the mashed potatoes over the top, return to the oven and bake for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

SKILLET SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the corn, peas, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook for 5 minutes., Combine the cornstarch, bouillon and water until well blended; stir into beef mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir until thickened, 2 minutes. Stir in sour cream and heat through (do not boil)., Spread mashed potatoes over the top; sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook until potatoes are heated through and cheese is melted. Freeze option: Prepare beef mixture as directed but do not add sour cream. Freeze cooled meat mixture in a freezer container. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a large skillet, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary. Stir in sour cream and proceed as directed.