Ingredient List
5 medium potatoes
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 tsp dried rosemary
2 stalks celery
1/2 medium onion
3 medium carrots
1/3 cup flour
1 cup stock
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 tbs fresh thyme
1/4 cup milk
3 tbs butter
I start by washing and chopping the potatoes for the mash topping. Start them cooking in a pot of cold water. They will be done by the time the filling has finished cooking. I leave the skins on.
Next I started browning the ground beef (you could also use ground turkey or even stew beef, although that would take a bit longer to cook). Once the beef is about half-way cooked I start adding the seasonings: salt, pepper, rosemary, and a tiny bit of red pepper flakes for just a little kick.
Then I let the meat finish cooking while I chop the rest of the veggies. Make sure to cut them all about the same size so everything cooks evenly.
Drain the meat and cook the vegetables in the same pan, you will pick up the extra flavor from the meat left in the pan and you will have one less thing to wash!
When the veggies are slightly tender add the meat back to the pan. Add enough flour to coat all the meat and veggies. Pour in some stock (vegetable, chicken or beef). Cook until the sauce has thickened into a nice gravy. Mix in the peas and thyme, then pour into a pie pan.
At this point the potatoes will be done cooking. Drain them and return to the pot for mashing. Add the milk and butter and salt ant pepper (to taste). Mash until all ingredients are well mixed. Spread on top of the meat and vegetable filling.
Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes.
About half way through baking I noticed the gravy was bubbling out and dripping onto the bottom of the oven. I placed a cookie sheet on the rack under the pie to keep the oven clean.
In the time it took to bake I was able to wash all the dishes used for cooking.
Here is the finished Shepard's Pie
Everyone in the family loved this dish. My 15 month old, who is in a no meat phase even ate it. I guess all the mashed potatoes (his favorite) and other veggies hid the meat. There were even left-overs to pack in Anthony's lunch the next day!
