Do you like Shepard's Pie?

[maslex]

I know there are people out there who will say that original Shepard's Pie is made with lamb and I'm sure that's true. BUT I think the majority of people know it cooked with ground hamburger instead, right?

What is the recipe that you use? Do you put anything in your ground beef to make it less dry? (maybe a can of "cream of whatever" soup) Do you add cheese? What about your mashed potatoes on top? My husband does like Shepard's Pie, but doesn't care for mine because it's "too watery" I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but my kids and I like it and eat it. We don't see anything wrong with it. Do you make regular mashed potatoes or do you decrease the amount of milk you put in it so it's not so watery? A friend of mine boils her potatoes, then adds butter and that's it.

Anyhow, I've been trying to come up with different things to add to my dinner rotation and I was thinking that maybe instead of using ground beef, I might try using chicken (probably get a rotisserie chicken and cut that up). Then my question is.....Should I just layer the chicken on the bottom or should I make like a "pot pie" filling but instead of using a pie crust or biscuits on top, I could make it like a shepard's pie and use mashed potatoes. Have you ever made it like this? How did it come out?

 

[PaulaSB12]

If its made with beef then its not shepherd's pie its cottage pie!!!!!!

 

[ronandannette]

I like MY shepards pie; it seems everybody puts their own spin on it and it's actually one of the things I least like to try when somebody else cooks it. A very dear friend brought us a meal last week (such a sweet gesture) and it was labled "shepards pie". With trepidation I took the foil off and it was topped with RICE!! That is just wrong on so many levels...

With mine, yes I make it with beef, which actually makes it Ranchers Pie. To keep it moist, yet thick I mix the cooked beef with creamed corn and spike it with a teaspoon or two of beef bullion powder for a richer flavour. I also put vegetables in the base (onions, mushrooms and garlic cooked with the meat) and frozen peas and carrots stirred in afterwards. I top it with seasoned mashed potatoes softened with sour cream and with extra-sharp cheddar melted in. IMHO...yum.

 

[Schmeck]

I don't like it with ground hamburger, but one of our local restaurants serves it with braised short rib. Yum!

I don't eat babies, so I'd never have one with lamb.

 

[mjkacmom]

Google Rachel ray's recipe. It is ds15's favorite meal, and so easy. I cheat and use refrigerated mashed potatoes. I use ground turkey (which is defrosting in my fridge now - making it this week).

 

[mombrontrent]

I am the kind of person who never makes something the same way twice and just kind of wings it in the kitchen. So my "shepards pies" are never exactly the same but they always turn out great. I usually sautee some veggies (mushrooms, onion, garlic, carrots ect. whatever I have on hand). Mix in the meat (I use soy or beans) and some frozen peas or corn or both. I usually mix in a little sauce which could be veggie broth, tomato sauce or brown gravy. Top with some mashed potatoes ( mixed with salt, pepper, vegan margarine and sometimes nutritional yeast for a "cheesy flavor). Now this makes a great vegan shepards pie but you could use the same idea wit meat and dairy of course.

 

[aprilgail2]

Never heard of it- I thought it was a recipe for a new dessert when I opened the thread LOL--

 

[firecracker725]

What about yours is watery? The filling or the potatoes? I do think stiff potatoes are in order. I use buttermilk in mine. If your filling is too watery, you should just add some cornstarch dissolved in a bit of cold water to thicken it up.

I use ground beef in mine, and I call it shepherd's pie, even though I know that's not technically correct. Oh, and though I do love cooking with cream soups (I'm a southern girl, after all!), I don't think it's necessary in this dish. I use a little beef broth thickened with the corn starch mixure.

 

[Tazicket]

I use Alton Brown's recipe with a few tweaks. I swap ground beef and beef broth for the ground lamb and chicken broth in his. I also toss in some green beans and corn in mine. Always turns out great! I can't wait for it to cool off a bit so I can make it again.

 

[BEloveDisney]

I make it with ground beef, a jar of beef gravy, and half a bag of mixed veggies. I top it with regular mashed potatoes and sprinkle cheese on top. It usually turns out well. Sometimes it's too wet because I think it looks too dry before I bake it and put in too much gravy.

 

[shortbun]

I brown the ground beef in sauteed onions and salt/pepper. The mashed potatoes are made with very little milk and no butter. I also put a layer of peas or corn in the middle. I do dot the top with butter and sprinkle a good layer of sharp cheddar on top. I've never had trouble with it being watery but I don't use a broth either.

 

[wiigirl]

Google Rachel ray's recipe. It is ds15's favorite meal, and so easy. I cheat and use refrigerated mashed potatoes. I use ground turkey (which is defrosting in my fridge now - making it this week).

 

[Colleen27]

I'm an improvisational cook - I use a recipe the first time I make something new, and then change it up a bit based on preference and what's on hand on future makings. So like everything else, my shepherd's pie has variations. Sometimes I use lamb, sometimes beef. My kids seem to prefer a mixture of the two, or of beef and venison. I'll sometimes use a little broth, a dash of worcestershire sauce or A1, or a bit of brown gravy in the meat depending on what else I'm using - sometimes I'll sautee some mushrooms and onions to add to the meat, which makes it moist enough on its own, but if I'm just adding peas and/or carrots I'll add a little extra something to keep the mix moist. Especially if I'm using very lean meats.

As far as the potatoes, that's simple - boiled, mashed, with just a little butter and I prefer yellow potatoes over white. Not whipped with milk like I'd serve if they were to stand alone. That way they're stiffer and make a better "crust". And I don't put cheese on mine; I've had it with and without and don't really notice a difference, so why add it?

 

[LBIJim]

I never heard of Shepard's Pie until I saw it in the college cafeteria. Tried it once and swore never again. I'm sure homemade Shepard's pie is superior, but the whole idea is just unappetizing to me. DW never had it as a kid either, so it's just not on our radar.

Jim

 

[tcufrog]

I sometimes make mine with leftover pot roast. My family loves it. I've also made an Italian version that includes pasta sauce, cheese and Italian seasoning. Great! Now I'm hungry.

 

[TinkerBelled]

I love shepherd's pie and cottage pie. I usually make cottage pie because ground beef is so much easier to find in America.

My favorite recipe is Jamie Oliver's: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/lamb-recipes/spring-lamb-shepherd-s-pie. Warm and comforting and perfect for a colder night.

(If you use lean ground beef, the nutrition is less shocking.)

(My apologies for the huge pic.)

 

[lynxstch]

I love it, and haven't had it in quite awhile. Of course now thanks to this post, I'm gonna crave it and have to make it this week!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I like it however I don't make it because my family does not like any sort of casserole.

 

[sophiagymgall]

It's a traditional recipe here in Quebec. The standard recipe includes mashed potatoes, creamed corn and ground beef, and is eaten with ketchup. It sounds weird but it's a very popular dish, especially among children. In my family, we sometimes switch the mashed potatoes for something (slightly!) healthier : carrot, sweet potato or turnip puree, for instance. We sometimes switch the beef for lamb - we've tried pork but it's a bit too dry, even with loads of ketchup It looks something like this :

 

[SAHDad]

I make several different variants, depending on whether I have lamb or beef in the freezer. (And yeah, I do call them different names, though I am not sure the kids have picked up on the reason why.*) I can't share the recipe because I have two or three different source materials that I may reference when I am cooking it, but I can't say that I have ever followed any of them perfectly - I improvise a lot.


* The kids know what lamb is, and like it. They've come with me to the packing facility where we pick it up, though they haven't watched any animals get slaughtered.