Shepherd’s Pie

By Keith Prickett on January 11th, 2012 (Add Comment »)

Many people try to make shepherd’s pie but it seems like they always substitute the lamb!  Why would you do that!?  Shepherd’s pie is just not the same without lamb.  We have raised lamb now since we started the farm and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.  Our customers love it, we love it and you just can’t make shepherd’s pie without it!

Shepherd’s pie is a true comfort food.  Meat and potatoes.  Yum!  I always like to add peas and carrots but if you really just want meat and potatoes just leave them out.  This is probably in my top 5 favorite meals of all time.  Let me tell you how I make it:

Shepherd’s Pie – Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 whole medium onion, diced
• 5 large potatoes
• 5 large garlic cloves, diced
• 4 large carrots, boiled for 5 minutes then diced
• 1 pound pasture-raised lamb
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons canola oil or butter
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 cup beef (or other) broth
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• kosher salt
• fresh ground pepper

Method:

1. Chop potatoes into quarters and add to a pot full of water, bring to a boil
2. Boil potatoes until soft
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a heavy bottom pan
4. Add onions and saute until translucent
5. Add garlic, cook for a minute longer
6. Add lamb and cook until brown (can you smell it yet?!)
7. Add flour, cook for a minute longer
8. Add tomato paste
9. Add broth, mix well
10. At this point taste the mixture and salt and pepper to taste.
11. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes
12. Add the boiled, diced carrots
13. Add the peas, mix well, set mixture aside
14. Drain the water from the potatoes, add 1 stick of butter and about 1/4 cup of milk, mash until they resemble mashed potatoes.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Potatoes seem to repel salt, so add plenty.
15. Now put it all together.  Add the meat mixture to the bottom of a casserole dish, layer potatoes on top and spread with a spatula
16. Bake on 375 for 15 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes on high to brown.
17. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. If you’d like to purchase some lamb from us, be sure you get on our waiting list.  We currently buy lambs from our neighbors and finish them on spring and fall pasture so they are available late spring and late fall.

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