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Shepherd's pie recipe

217 ratings

A British classic, our best shepherd's pie recipe has a rich lamb filling and fluffy potato topping that the whole family will love. See method

  • Serves 4
  • 35 mins to prepare and 1 hr 35 mins to cook
  • 575 calories / serving
  • Freezable

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 carrot, finely chopped
  • 1 celery stick, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 500g lamb mince
  • 1 tbsp plain flour
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 275ml lamb or vegetable stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 450g potatoes, chopped into 2cm chunks
  • 200ml milk
  • 50g unsalted butter
  • pinch of white pepper
  • green salad or steamed broccoli, to serve (optional)

Each serving contains

  • Energy

    2395kj
    575kcal     29%

  • Fat

    40g 56%

  • Saturates

    19g 96%

  • Sugars

    8g 9%

  • Salt

    1.3g 21%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 30.6g Protein 26.3g Fibre 4g

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic, and sauté for 5 mins over a medium heat.
  2. Add the lamb mince to the pan and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it up. Cook until well browned, stirring regularly, then sprinkle in the flour and mix well. Add the tomato purée, stock, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning to taste. Mix everything together well, cover with a lid and simmer for 30 mins, stirring from time to time.
  3. Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a separate pan and cover with hot water. Place over a medium heat and simmer for 20 mins or until tender and cooked through. Drain, then return to the pan and shake over a low heat to steam off excess moisture.
  4. Put the milk in a small pan and heat gently over a low heat. Remove the potatoes from the heat and crush with a potato masher until smooth. Add the hot milk, butter and white pepper, and beat until fluffy and well blended.
  5. Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, fan 170°C. Remove the bay leaf from the lamb mixture and transfer to a large ovenproof dish. Spoon the mashed potato on top and use a fork to spread it around, sealing in the meat and making a stripy pattern.
  6. Bake in the oven for 30 mins until the potato is crisp and golden on top. Serve with a green salad or steamed broccoli, if you like.

Tip: Try sprinkling some grated cheese evenly over the mashed potato before baking, or chop some parsley and sprinkle over the shepherd's pie before serving.

Freezing and defrosting guidelines

Once the dish has cooled completely, transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container, seal and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight before reheating. Loosely cover with foil and bake until piping hot.

See more Pie recipes

For top tips on protecting you and your family when preparing raw meat and poultry, visit Food Safety in the Home.

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