This traditional dish of Ireland is the perfect comfort food for a family dinner or St. Patrick's Day party with friends. Pair it with a lively green salad for an easy meal everyone will love.
Course Dinner, Lunch
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 30 minutesminutes
Total Time 50 minutesminutes
Servings 6people
Ingredients
Mashed Potatoes
2poundsYukon Gold potatoesor russet potatoes
1/2cupmilk
3tablespoonsbutter
1/2cupsour cream
1teaspoonkosher salt
1/2teaspoonground black pepper
Meat Filling
1poundground beefor ground lamb or turkey
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
1mediumOnionchopped
2mediumcarrotschopped
3clovesgarlicchopped
1/2teaspoondried oregano
1/2teaspoondried thyme
1pinchkosher salt
1pinchground black pepper
1tablespoontomato paste
1cupfrozen peas
3/4cupchicken brothor beef broth
Instructions
Wash and cut the potatoes in half and place in a large pot of salted water. (I don't peel the Yukon Gold potatoes because I like the texture with the skins. If you don't peel them first)
Bring the pot to a boil and cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender and drain
Heat the milk and butter in the microwave or small sauté pan. Adding the hot milk to the hot potatoes will create a nice creamy consistency
Place the potatoes back in the pot and begin to add the hot milk/butter mixture. Mash by hand
Add the the sour cream, salt and pepper and mash to combine
Add more milk/butter as needed and stir until the potatoes are nice and creamy. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Cover the pot
Make the meat filling
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
chop the garlic, onions and carrots
Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan
Add the chopped onions and carrots to the pan and sauté until they begin to soften - about 6 minutes
Add the chopped garlic, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper and sauté for another 30 seconds
Add the meat to the pan and break it up with a wooden spoon
Sauté the meat until it's cooked through - about 6-7 minutes and add the tomato paste
Add the chicken broth and reduce the heat. Simmer until the sauce begins to thicken - about 10 minutes, then add the peas
Cook for a couple more minutes, until the peas have heated through
Assemble the Shepherd's Pies
Place the meat mixture into 6 small baking dishes (or one large baking pan)
Add the mashed potatoes on top of the meat mixture
Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the Shepherd's Pies - until the filling is piping hot and the potatoes have browned
Serve to all your favorite people and enjoy! Everyone's Irish when it comes to Shepherd's Pie