Shepherd's Pie with Irish Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Ground lamb and aromatic vegetables, slow simmered in a rich brown gravy, topped with silky smooth mashed potatoes flavored with aged Irish cheddar and chives.

Prep15

Cook45

Serves8

Course Dinner, Leftovers, Lunch

Variety Fav(s) Honey Gold®

Cook Type Oven, Stove Top

Dish Type Comfort

Quick, Easy, Convenient 1-Dish Meals

Season Fall, Spring, Winter

Ingredients

Lamb Filling

1 lb. ground lamb
½ yellow onion, chopped
¼ c. carrots, chopped
¼ c. celery, chopped
½ c. yellow corn kernels
½ c. green peas
Salt and pepper, to taste

Brown Gravy

2 tbsp. unsalted butter
3 tbsp. all purpose flour
2 tbsp. tomato paste
½ c. dry red wine
2 c. beef stock
¼ tsp. dried thyme
½ tsp. dried marjoram (optional)
1 Bay leaf

Irish Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

16 oz. Tasteful Selections® potatoes
¼ c. unsalted butter
¼ c. milk
1 tsp. salt
¾ c. shredded Irish cheddar or white aged cheddar
Fresh chives, for garnish

Instructions

Ground Lamb

In large nonstick skillet over high heat, brown ground lamb. Then remove from heat and drain off all but 1 tablespoon of rendered fat (for vegetables). Set aside.

Vegetables

Sauté onions, carrots and celery in tablespoon of reserved lamb fat. The onions should be translucent after about 2-3 minutes of cooking. Turn off heat and add corn, peas and cooked ground lamb. Season with salt and pepper. Set this mixture to the side.

Brown Gravy

In a medium saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Once butter is melted, add flour and cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly until the butter and the flour mixture have turned a nutty brown color. Add tomato paste and stir until combined. Whisk in red wine and beef stock. Reduce the heat to low and add thyme, bay leaf and marjoram. Simmer sauce for 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf and strain sauce through a fine-mesh strainer to eliminate lumps. Set aside until ready to assemble the pie.

Mashed Potatoes

Boil potatoes for 15 minutes or until fork tender, then strain. Mash potatoes and then stir in butter, milk and salt, until combined. Gently stir in cheese.

Assemble Dish

Place ground lamb/vegetable mixture into an oven-safe dish. Stir in gravy and top with the mashed potatoes. The potatoes can just be simply spooned on top, but for a beautiful presentation.
Place pie under broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the top of the potatoes are golden brown. Sprinkle with chopped chives for garnish.