Gordon Ramsay’s Shepards Pie
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There is nothing more classic when it comes to a homecooked meal than the flavor of a traditional casserole. Known as “shepherd’s pie,” the savory flavors and hearty combination of ground meat and veggies, all the best spices and seasonings, and the fluffy potato topping is bite-after-bite satisfying.
This dinner recipe, reminiscent of your grandmother’s classic dish, is too good to keep a secret and epitomizes ultimate comfort food.
Why You’ll Love Making Shepard’s Pie
- Protein Options: Choose lamb for a traditional Shepherd’s Pie or beef for a Cottage Pie twist.
- Rich Flavor: Worcestershire sauce, herbs, and tomato paste create a deeply savory taste.
- Creamy Potato Topping: Mashed potatoes with Parmesan cheese add a creamy, cheesy layer to this classic dish.
Where did this recipe come from?
This British dish is an adaptation of Chef Ramsay’s Shepard’s Pie. It’s a slight adaptation of his show, Kitchen Nightmares.
While the two terms are used interchangeably and many ingredients are roughly the same, a cottage pie recipe typically uses beef, and “Shepherd’s pie” typically uses lamb, as we did here.
[You can use whichever protein you like that is available in your area.]
Ingredients:
- olive oil
- ground lamb (or ground beef)
- diced white onion and carrot
- Worcestershire sauce
- tomato paste
- flavor: minced garlic, rosemary leaves, salt, ground thyme, and ground black pepper
- chicken stock
- russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- egg yolk
- heavy whipping cream
- butter
- grated Parmesan cheese
How to make Gordon Ramsay’s Shepard’s Pie Recipe
- Preheat the oven. Set it to 350°F.
- Brown the Meat: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a 10″ oven-safe skillet. Add ground lamb, cooking until browned.
- Vegetable Mix-In: Add onion, carrots, and garlic, cooking for 1-2 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, rosemary, salt, thyme, and pepper. Mix the lamb mixture thoroughly.
Broth Reduction:
- Pour in chicken broth.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce until most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Potato Preparation: Boil potatoes in water in a separate saucepan until tender. Drain potatoes and mash.
- Potato Seasoning: Stir in egg yolk, heavy cream, butter, and two tablespoons of Parmesan—season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the Pie: Spread mashed potatoes over the meat mixture.
- Cheesy Topping: Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Cook in a preheated oven for 20 minutes until bubbly and browned.
Rest and Serve: Let it stand for a few minutes before serving.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I use other types of potatoes? Yes, though russet potatoes are ideal for their fluffy texture.
Why is there an egg in the mashed potatoes?
For this step, an Egg Yolk separator is helpful. Adding an egg yolk to the mashed potatoes in the Shepherd’s Pie recipe serves a few important purposes:
- Richness and Flavor: The egg yolk contributes a creamy richness to the potatoes, enhancing their flavor.
- Improved Texture: When baked, the egg yolk helps the potato topping set with a firmer, smoother texture. This makes the pie easier to serve.
- Golden Brown Finish: The fats in the yolk contribute to the golden-brown color.
Storage Tips: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for the best results, but it can also be reheated in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions: This dish needs no side; however, if you feel incomplete without one, try:
- Always a classic, try Garlic Bread or Dinner Rolls
- Our favorite homemade Applesauce recipe
- One of our favorite salad ideas
Gordon Ramsay Shepard’s Pie (With Lamb)
Equipment
- 10-inch ovenproof skillet (for cooking the meat mixture)
- Large saucepan (for boiling potatoes)
- potato masher
- Measuring cups and spoons
- knife and cutting board (for chopping vegetables)
- Mixing spoon or spatula
- Colander (for draining potatoes)
Ingredients
Meat Mixture
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. ground lamb
- ½ cup onion diced
- ½ cup fresh carrot diced
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 tsp. dried rosemary leaves
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. ground thyme
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
- ½ cup chicken stock
Potato Topping
- 1½ pound Russet Potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 tbsp. heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 4 tbsp. grated Parmesan Cheese divided by 2
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 350°F.
- Cook Meat: In a 10" ovenproof skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb. of ground lamb, stirring frequently until browned. Mix in 1/2 cup diced onion, 1/2 cup diced carrot, and 1 tablespoon minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add Flavors: Stir in 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Add 1/2 cup chicken stock and bring to a boil. Continue boiling until most of the liquid has reduced.
- Prepare Potatoes: In a large saucepan, cover 1-1/2 lb peeled and chunked russet potatoes with cold water, ensuring they are submerged by 2 inches. Boil over medium-high heat until tender. Drain and return the potatoes to the pan. Mash the potatoes well (a manual masher works best- do not use a mixer)
- Potato Topping: To the mashed potatoes, add 1 egg yolk, 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons butter, and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble Shepard's Pie: Carefully spread the mashed potato mixture over the meat in the skillet. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until it's bubbly around the edges and browned on top.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the Shepard's pie to stand and set for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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