Shepard's Pie (ground beef "cottage pie")
Recipe:
6 medium Yukon gold potatoes cleaned and cut into cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter
2 carrots peeled and chopped
1 medium white onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced finely
1 ½ lbs lean ground beef (or ground lamb if you want to make Shepherds Pie)
2 tablespoons flour
½ to ¾ cup of dark beer or beef stock
1 teaspoon ground thyme
2 teaspoons tomato paste
Salt and Pepper to taste
¼ cup grated Irish Cheddar or Stilton Blue Cheese
Directions:
1. Fill a large stock pot half way with salted water and bring to a boil.
2. Put the cubed potatoes in and boil until they are soft.
3. While the potatoes are boiling take a large sauce pan and heat the oil at medium high heat.
4. When the oil is hot stir in the carrots, and onion and cook these until they begin to soften a little.
5. Add the garlic and the ground beef and cook until the ground beef is done.
6. If there is a lot of grease pour off the excess grease.
7. Stir in the flour and combine well and cook in the pan for 2 minutes then
8. add the beer or stock, the thyme and the tomato paste and cook this until it thickens.
9. Once it is thickened add it to a large baking dish.
10. Drain the potatoes and mash them until smooth.
11. Add the cheese and combine well.
12. Spoon the potatoes on top of the meat mixture and gently spread it so that it covers the entire meat mixture.
13. Place this in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes have begun to brown on top.
14. Remove and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.