Traditional Irish Shepherd’s Pie with Golden Potato Topping
Classic Irish Shepherd’s Pie features savory minced lamb simmered with vegetables in rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until lightly golden.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
2 pounds ground lamb
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups beef or lamb stock
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup peas
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 pounds starchy potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese optional
Instructions
-
Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, drain, and mash with butter and warm milk. Season and set aside.
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Preheat oven to 400°F 200°C.
-
Brown ground lamb in a skillet, draining excess fat if needed.
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Add onion and carrots, cook until softened, then stir in garlic.
-
Sprinkle flour over mixture, cook briefly, and stir in tomato paste.
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Gradually add stock, thyme, bay leaf, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer until thickened.
-
Stir in peas, remove bay leaf, and season.
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Transfer filling to baking dish and spread mashed potatoes over top.
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Sprinkle cheese if using and bake 20 to 25 minutes until lightly golden.
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Rest before serving.
Notes
Cool filling slightly before topping with potatoes.
Broil briefly for extra browning.
Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated.