Shepherd’s Pie

Less than 30mins preparation, 1-2 hours cooking
4

Ingredients:

  • For the mashed potato topping:
  • 1.5kg Wilson’s Country baking potatoes
  • 75g butter
  • 150ml milk
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • For the filling:
  • 400ml beef stock
  • 200ml red wine
  • 75ml balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled, finely chopped
  • 750g/1lb beef mince
  • 1 tbsp plain flour
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 150g boiled peas, to serve

Ingredients:

step 1

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.

step 2

For the mashed potato topping, prick the potatoes all over with a fork and bake in the middle of the oven for 1-1½ hours, or until tender.

step 3

Meanwhile, for the filling, heat the beef stock, red wine, and balsamic vinegar in a saucepan until boiling. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the volume of the liquid has reduced by half.

step 4

Heat the olive oil in a large non-reactive frying pan and fry the onions and carrots for 1-2 minutes, or until softened. Add the beef mince and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, or until browned all over. Stir in the plain flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, then stir in the reduced stock mixture and add the bay leaf.

step 5

Simmer the mixture for 45-60 minutes, or until the mince is tender and the sauce has thickened. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

step 6

When the potatoes are cooked, slice them in half, scoop out the flesh and pass through a potato ricer into a saucepan.

step 7

Place the saucepan on the heat, add the butter and milk and stir well with a wooden spoon until the mash is smooth and creamy. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

step 8

To assemble the cottage pie, spoon the cooked mince into a baking dish and pipe the mashed potato on top.

step 9

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden-brown and bubbling.10. To serve, spoon some cottage pie onto each of 4 serving plates. Spoon the peas alongside.