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| SHEPHERDS PIE (BRITISH) | |
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Before we start, let us be clear and lets get it right. Shepherds pie is made with lamb, cottage pie is made with beef. Never in the history of the British isles has cheese ever come close to either. If you see cheese anywhere near a recipe for either, put it down to the USA's obsession to add cheese to anything that moves - it doesn't generally belong with meat unless you desire lead in your stomach, this said. 1 lb. lean lamb, minced 1 large onion, sliced 1 medium carrot, chopped 1 stick celery, chopped enough beef stock to cover salt and pepper 3 to 4 tsp. corn starch or 2 Bisto (if you know what it is) and 1 corn starch 2 lb. good mashing potatoes 4 oz. (1 stick) butter salt and pepper Let's get this right and the best way: Add minced lamb into a casserole dish, add onion, carrot, celery, beef stock, corn starch and/Bisto/corn starch, salt and pepper, to taste, and stir. Cook in a slow oven, say 275°F for 2 hours. You can do all this on stove top for about 20 minutes BUT the flavor is never the same. When complete, drain off gravy and reserve.
Add back enough gravy to the meat to make it moist. Gently add the potato to the top and build up. Spread with a fork, finally making fork marks both up and down and across to form a basket like pattern. Put oven temperature at 400°F, then bake until potato is crispy and golden on the peaks (about) 30 minutes. Serve with remaining gravy and steamed cabbage (preferably Savoy, if you can get it). NO CHEESE, PLEASE. Submitted by: Neil - a Brit | |
Boil and mash potatoes with milk, butter, salt and pepper, however DO NOT make it into a wet paste. It should be firm and almost chunky.| 967 reviews | Add review Share |
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recipe reviews #30811
KATHLEEN (Kentucky) says:
Laughing myself silly here. I don't like lamb, but I appreciate the "correct" recipe for those who are searching for it. It's too bland for me, so I add lots of goodies in layers and do it MY way. Sorry, Neil! If I decide to add cheese, you may have to get over it. LOL!
This has been quite entertaining and added a lot of spice to the site, but is there such a thing as a WRONG recipe if it's how you like it?
ALAN...it's NEIL who is complaining about all of us getting it wrong, NOT US!
Irish, (can you tell by the name) but born in the USA. Over here we just eat what we want to, but thanks anyway.
This has been quite entertaining and added a lot of spice to the site, but is there such a thing as a WRONG recipe if it's how you like it?
ALAN...it's NEIL who is complaining about all of us getting it wrong, NOT US!
Irish, (can you tell by the name) but born in the USA. Over here we just eat what we want to, but thanks anyway.
#30888
Janette (Ontario) says:
I will not MINCE my words over this as I can be a little sheepish. Is this topic older that coronation street. The recipe is great and I cook it often. LET IT GO.
Thanks from Janette
(Scot living in Canada)
Thanks from Janette
(Scot living in Canada)
#30957
Tbone (Florida) says:
I googled "shepards pie lamb" and saw the first line of this recipe amongst the others...I actually searched to find this particular recipe because of the authors determination to share his specific knowlege and experience with others. Thank you for that, Neil
p.s. My favorite Italian restaurant has lost customers because the owner refuses to serve cheese with the linguini with clam sauce.
p.s. My favorite Italian restaurant has lost customers because the owner refuses to serve cheese with the linguini with clam sauce.
#30984
Lala (Maine) says:
Wasn't going to consider putting cheese on it until I read this recipe, I threw some bread crumbs on there too. I also added thyme, oregano, mushrooms, peas and crushed bay leaves, omitted the celery, added sour cream to the potatoes. I'll let you know how it turns out. The basket weave hint was a good idea, might be in vain due to the cheese though!
#31089
TaRt says:
think of the name for the dish, it only makes sense that it is made from lamb. "shepard" is a sheep herder. i agree that americans put cheese on EVERYTHING! do u kno of any other culture that has such an obsession with cheese?? i dont. its disguisting. Just to let u know, i am american but i also like food )__( people are entitled to their own opinions on food, likes and dislikes.
#31419
Claire (Michigan) says:
if anyone took the comment wrong, Shame on them, people take pride in preparing dishes, and there heritage, U all should be thankful, that someone took the time to share it, with you!! Start cooking, and stop the criticism. A fellow Brit.
#31448
Lynda (New York) says:
I found the USA and cheese comments rude, snobbish, and generally snotty. British food has a terrible reputation so I wouldn't be throwing stones.
Besides, everybody knows everything tastes better with cheese! :)
Besides, everybody knows everything tastes better with cheese! :)
#31449
Fred (Florida) says:
This IS how to make Shepard's pie. You cannot change ingredients and still call it Shepard's Pie because it is now a whole new recipe. If you were making pizza but instead of a crust you used a thinly sliced pound cake and instead of tomato sauce you sub'd strawberry sauce and instead of cheese you sub'd whipped cream, could you call it Pizza? No it would be a Strawberry Shortcake. You CANNOT sub ingredients and still have the same final dish. It's as much chemistry as it is an art. Thank you Neil for setting the record straight!
#31452
Myah (Florida) says:
Thanks for the recipe. I loved it and your tone.
#31591
Barbara Redman Pratt (Missouri) says:
I agree with Clara, if a body wants cheese why make it look sinful. I happen to love cheese and I dont see that it adds "LEAD" to your stomach. Sounds like the Brits have something against cheese, or is it just Neil?
#31631
Danny (Florida) says:
Loved your recipe for Shepherd's pie, I made one, and got great comments. I don't think you to be a snob, I agree that Americans LOVE their rubber, flavourless pasturized cheeze products...and mushy wet mashed potatoes...lol
#31653
Crystal says:
My hubby is a Brit - fresh from jolly ole England (Devonshire). Me, Canadian and he insists I put cheese on my Cottage Pie.
#31826
Loving2cook (Maryland) says:
Okay already...I understand if someone is claiming an authentic recipe to be made of beef and is really of lamb it's offensive to the one who's it native to, but come on it's another to be rude. Over time many different cultures have changed and altered recipes for centuries. Let us Americans enjoy our shepherd's pie the way we want as you do the same. Write the recipe without oppinions and keep it's heritage. If you want an authentic recipe he is right but guy seriously don't let us Amercians get your panties in a knot.
#31963
Ruth (Massachusetts) says:
Great to see a recipe for British Shepherd's Pie using lamb. I never knew that lamb was used. Makes sense though. Having grown up in Massachusetts of English, Irish, and French background, my mother always made "Shepherd's Pie" with ground beef and corn layered on top with mashed potatoes. Very simple, but good. I, however, put a twist on things by using ground pork. Less expensive thanlamb or beef. Season with pork seasoning or Adobo (with or without pepper) in a frypan. Mix the cooked pork with corn in a baking dish and layer the mashed potatoes on top. Sprinkle some graded REAL cheese (or slices) on top completes the dish, though the cheese is not necessary. Bake 325-350°F for about 20 minutes. Simple yet tasty!
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I was born and raised in the deep south of the USA where people are much more polite and taught good manners from the cradle to the grave.
YES, I had Shepher's Pie all my years growing up, sometimes with things thrown in that made it USA style, but hey!...who really cared? It was delicious anyway!