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Recipe

Irish Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

  • For lamb mixture:
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 diced onion
  • 2 pounds lean ground lamb
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp minced fresh rosemary
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 1/2 cups water or broth (use more or less to adjust thickness as needed)
  • 12 oz bag frozen peas and carrots, thawed, drained well
  • For the potato topping:
  • 2 1/2 pound Yukon gold potatoes
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • pinch of cayenne
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese
  • 1/4 pound Irish cheddar (he used "Dubliner" by Kerrygold; may substitute any sharp white cheddar)
  • 1 egg yolk beaten with 2 tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a Dutch oven over medium heat, mix olive oil and butter, diced onion, lamb. Brown meat (about 10 minutes or so) while breaking it up into small pieces.

  2. 2

    Add flour and mix. Stir in salt, pepper, rosemary, paprika, cinnamon, ketchup, garlic. Cook 3-4 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add water or broth and stir. Cook 5-6 minutes until it thickens. Turn off heat.

  4. 4

    Stir in peas and carrots. Transfer to casserole dish and smooth it down.

  5. 5

    Boil potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain thoroughly. (Preheat oven to 375ºF.)

  6. 6

    Add butter, salt and pepper, cayenne, cream cheese, and Irish cheddar. Mash until thoroughly incorporated.

  7. 7

    Add egg yolk and milk, and stir.

  8. 8

    Spread potatoes evenly over the other ingredients in the casserole dish.

  9. 9

    Bake at 375ºF for about 25-30 minutes. (Should see a golden brown crust, and gravy bubbling around the outside.) Let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.