SHEPHERD’S PIE

Hearty Comfort in Every Bite: Master the Art of Shepherd’s Pie with this Delicious Recipe!

Ingredients:

4 servings

• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

• 3 large (1 1/2 to 2 pounds) potatoes, peeled and quartered

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divided

• 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

• 1 to 2 cups mixed vegetables, such as diced carrots, corn, or peas 
• 1 1/2 pounds ground round beef

• 1/2 cup beef broth

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• Pepper and/or other seasonings of choice

Preparation:

1. Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in medium sized pot. Cover with at least an inch of cold water. Add a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender (about 20 minutes).
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
3. Sauté the vegetables: While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large sauté pan on medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook for 6 to 10 minutes.
Add vegetables according to their cooking time.
4. Add ground beef to the pan with the onions and vegetables. Cook until no longer pink. Drain the pan of excess fat, if necessary (anything more than 1 tablespoon). Season with salt and pepper.
Add Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Bring the broth to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, adding more beef broth if necessary to keep the meat from drying out. If needed, add more salt, pepper, Worcestershire, or other seasonings of your choice.
5. When the potatoes are done cooking, remove them from the pot and place them in a bowl with the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Mash and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.
6. Layer the meat mixture and mashed potatoes in a 9 x 13-inch casserole baking dish: Spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the ground beef.
7. Place in a 400°F oven and cook until browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes. If necessary, broil for the last few minutes to help the surface of the mashed potatoes brown.
(Be careful when broiling using Pyrex or glass dishes, they have been known to shatter under the high heat of the broiler. It’s not a worry if you are using a ceramic or metal casserole dish.)