Shepard's Pie question

[giggler]

I'm trying to learn this dish before winter.

It seems simple.

1. Make your fave stew.

I like chunks of beef chuck roast, onions, bell, and spices, braize for an hour, then add frozen bag peas and carrots.

2. Make your fave mashed potatoes.

My Moms recipe is boil 2 Russetts, mash them with milk and sour cream.

3.

put the stew on bottom of glass dish, top with mashed potatoes, top with some cheese, pop under broiler till brown and bubbly.. good to go!

Is this it? I always thought this was some serious exotic dish!

So far my attempts here have been met with great reviews by my drunk Nascar Friends!

I think a bit of Horseraddish in the Potatoes might Kick it up a Notch.

Thanks, Eric, Austin Tx.

[GotGarlic]

Traditionally, shepherd's pie is made with leftovers from a Sunday beef roast, including roasted veggies and mashed potatoes. Starting with a beef stew is basically the same but you've already cut up the meat

So, yes, that's pretty much it.

[JMediger]

I think traditional shepard's pie is made with lamb or veal but I could be wrong. I normally just make hamburger gravy, stir in peas and carrots, top with mashed potatoes and bake. It's a great sunday night dinner and makes tasty left overs.

[KatyCooks]

Yep, it's traditionally made with lamb (hence "Shepherd's" pie).

The version with beef is usually called a Cottage Pie (in the UK anyway).

Both are delicious though.

If you don't have leftovers, you can make it from scratch with minced (ground) meat instead.

[Addie]

Originally Posted by KatyCooks

Yep, it's traditionally made with lamb (hence "Shepherd's" pie).

The version with beef is usually called a Cottage Pie (in the UK anyway).

Both are delicious though.

If you don't have leftovers, you can make it from scratch with minced (ground) meat instead.

Same here Katy.

I often will point out to folks, "When was the last time you heard of a shepherd tending to his herd of sheep out on the range or a cowboy taking his flock of cattle from the pasture, on a long drive to auction?" All arguments stop when you put it that way. Symantics I know, but it makes sense.

[Gravy Queen]

Yes that's right , Shepherds Pie is lamb . You are making Cottage Pie if using beef .

[KatyCooks]

Originally Posted by Addie

Same here Katy.

I often will point out to folks, "When was the last time you heard of a shepherd tending to his herd of sheep out on the range or a cowboy taking his flock of cattle from the pasture, on a long drive to auction?" All arguments stop when you put it that way. Symantics I know, but it makes sense.

Yep, that would certainly sort the cows from the sheep Addie!

[GotGarlic]

Wikipedia has a slightly different take: Cottage or shepherd's pie

Cottage pie or shepherd's pie is a meat pie with a crust of mashed potato.[1][2][3][4]

The term cottage pie is known to have been in use in 1791,[2][5][6] when the potato was being introduced as an edible crop affordable for the poor (cf. "cottage" meaning a modest dwelling for rural workers).

In early cookery books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, and the pie dish was lined with mashed potato as well as having a mashed potato crust on top.[7][8]

The term "shepherd's pie" did not appear until 1877,[2] and since then it has been used synonymously with "cottage pie", regardless of whether the principal ingredient was beef or mutton.[1][4][6][7][8][9][10] More recently, the term "shepherd's pie" has been used when the meat is lamb,[11][12] the theory being that shepherds are concerned with sheep[13] and not cattle[14][15][16] (see folk etymology).

[Oldvine]

Serious, exotic? If you mean it's different every time, yes, it exotic at my house. It gets what ever I have available and into the oven. Usually it's some sort of cooked beef and mash potatoes as the base.
P.S. I guess ours is Cottage pie, no lamb cooked around here.

[Rocklobster]

you are going to find as many recipes as there are members here. I am sure everybody's is different. Sounds like you have what you want in mind. If that is what you envision on your plate, then go for it.

I grew up with ground beef and onions, layered with corn then, well buttered , mashed potatoes sprinkled with Paprika. Baked until the top layer is crusty. It was a dry type dish but we would compensate with green chow or tomato chili on the side. Some covered it wkith ketchup.