Shepherd's Pie

Introduction: We made this in our school food technology lesson and my family asked me to make it when I prepared dinner one night (which I do at least one night a week)


The Pie:

Ingredients: 

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 400g lamb mince
• 1 cup tomato paste
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cup stock
• ½ cup parsley
• 400g potato
• ½ cup cream
• 50g butter
• grated cheese

Method:

• Cut potatoes into chunks and place in a saucepan with enough water to cover them and a dash of salt. Bring to the boil over medium heat until potatoes are soft and able to be pierced with a fork. Drain potatoes and return to the saucepan.
• Finely dice the carrots and onion and crush the garlic. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, garlic and bay leaf. Cook until vegetables are soft and start to colour. 
• Add mince and ½ tsp salt. Stir, breaking up the mince until brown. Add the tomato paste and stir, then add the stock. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly until sauce is thick. Stir through parsley.
• Mash your potatoes with cream and butter. Season with ½ tsp salt once smooth.
• Place mince mixture in an oven proof pan. Top with the potato and grated cheese and bake at 180C until golden brown.

New Methods Learnt:

• Nil

Result: This recipe works really well. It was the subject of applause from my family but I don't think they were just doing that to please me. It really did taste great.