Classic Shepherd's pie recipe | Jamie Oliver recipes (2024)

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Shepherd's pie

With crispy bottom, sides & top

Classic Shepherd's pie recipe | Jamie Oliver recipes (2)

With crispy bottom, sides & top

“With crispy potato all the way round and gorgeous tender meat in the middle, this is incredible. ”

Jamie's Comfort FoodDinner PartyEaster treatsSt. George's DayBritishBread

Nutrition per serving
  • Calories 508 25%

  • Fat 19.9g 28%

  • Saturates 9.9g 50%

  • Sugars 5.8g 6%

  • Salt 0.7g 12%

  • Protein 21.8g 44%

  • Carbs 64.2g 25%

  • Fibre 4.4g -

Of an adult's reference intake

recipe adapted from

Jamie's Comfort Food

By Jamie Oliver

Ingredients

  • ROAST LAMB
  • 1 small shoulder of lamb, bone in (2kg)
  • olive oil
  • FILLING
  • 4 red onions
  • 4 carrots
  • 4 sticks of celery
  • 1 medium swede
  • a few sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • 1 heaped tablespoon plain flour
  • TOPPING, SIDES & BOTTOM
  • 2.5 kg Maris Piper potatoes
  • 2 good knobs of unsalted butter
  • 100 g Cheddar cheese
  • 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • 60 g fresh breadcrumbs

Tap For Method

The cost per serving below is generated by Whisk.com and is based on costs in individual supermarkets. For more information about how we calculate costs per serving read our FAQS

recipe adapted from

Jamie's Comfort Food

By Jamie Oliver

Tap For Ingredients

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/gas 3.
  2. In a snug-fitting high-sided roasting tray, rub the lamb all over with a little oil and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Add a splash of water to the tray, then roast for 4 hours, or until the meat is tender and will fall away from the bone.
  3. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tray, then lift the lamb out onto a board, take all the meat and crispy skin off the bone and roughly chop it, reserving the bones.
  4. Skim away any fat from the tray and pop it into a clean jam jar. Add a splash of boiling water to the tray and stir around to pick up all the lovely sticky bits from the bottom. Keep it all to one side.
  5. For the filling, peel and roughly dice the onions, carrots, celery and swede, then put them into your biggest pan on a medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of reserved lamb fat. Strip in the rosemary leaves, then fry the veg for 20 minutes, or until lightly caramelised, stirring regularly.
  6. Stir in the flour, lamb, bones and tray juices, then pour in 1.5 litres of water. Bring to the boil, then put the lid on and reduce to a gentle simmer for 40 minutes, or until you’ve got a loose, stew-like consistency, stirring occasionally.
  7. To guarantee intense gravy and a tender but dense filling, remove and discard the bones, then place a large coarse sieve over a pan and, in batches, spoon the lamb stew into the sieve. Let the gravy drip through, and after a couple of minutes, when you get a dense pile of meat and veg in the sieve, transfer that to a bowl, leaving the gravy in the pan.
  8. Separately freeze half the cool meat and gravy for another day.
  9. For the topping, sides and bottom, peel and roughly chop the potatoes and cook in boiling salted water for 12 to 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain and leave to steam dry, then add the butter, grate in half the cheese, season to perfection with salt and pepper, mash well and cool completely.
  10. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
  11. Use a little reserved lamb fat to grease the inside of a large pie dish (25cm x 30cm), then pick and tear over the rosemary leaves and sprinkle with half the breadcrumbs – they’ll stick to the fat and add an incredible crunch.
  12. A handful at a time, press the cooled mash into the dish, covering the bottom and sides with a 1cm-thick layer. Spoon in the filling and a couple of spoonfuls of gravy, smooth out, then top with the remaining mash, pat it flat, scuff it up with a fork and pinch it at the edges.
  13. Grate over the rest of the cheese, scatter with the remaining breadcrumbs and drizzle lightly with oil. Importantly, bake on the bottom of the oven for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until crisp and golden.
  14. Warm your gravy through (reducing if desired), then serve the pie with loads of seasonal greens or peas and lots of condiments.

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recipe adapted from

Jamie's Comfort Food

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© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

© 2024 Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited

Classic Shepherd's pie recipe | Jamie Oliver recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is original shepherd's pie made of? ›

Shepherd's pie comes to us from England, and is traditionally made with lamb or mutton. Here in the states we are more of a beef eating culture than a lamb eating one, and when one is served "shepherd's pie" here, it is most often made with ground beef.

Does Ina Garten have a recipe for shepherd's pie? ›

I tried making Ina Garten's recipe for shepherd's pie. The meal was easy to prepare and was large enough to feed a whole family. The pie's filling was flavorful and savory, while the mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy.

What is the difference between Irish and British shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

What ingredients does shepherd's pie a traditional Irish dish contain? ›

Irish Shepherd's Pie is a delicious comforting dish perfect for celebrating the upcoming St Patrick's Day. Ground meat is cooked with lots of vegetables and Guinness, topped with delicious mashed potatoes and cheese and then baked to create a perfect golden crust.

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of easy? ›

This traditional shepherd's pie recipe is made with a mixture of lamb and sirloin, lots of veggies, and a creamy, cheesy mashed potato topping ⁠— sure to delight everyone at the table! Nicole McLaughlin produces the educational and entertaining food series from Allrecipes; You Can Cook That.

What is shepherd's pie made of in England? ›

More recently "shepherd's pie" has generally been used for a potato-topped dish of minced lamb. According to the Oxford Companion to Food, "In keeping with the name, the meat should be mutton or lamb; and it is usually cooked meat left over from a roast".

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What is a shepherds pie called when it is made from beef? ›

The main difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's pie is cottage pie uses ground beef, and Shepherd's pie uses ground lamb. Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes. To make Shepherd's pie using this recipe, simply substitute ground lamb.

Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›

This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.

What country invented shepherds pie? ›

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

Is cottage pie and shepherd's pie the same thing? ›

The only significant and steady difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie is the type of meat used. Shepherd's pie traditionally features ground lamb; cottage pie recipes call for ground beef.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›

Shepherd's pie is a classic British dish that has been around for centuries. Traditionally, it is made with mashed potatoes, ground beef, carrots, peas, and onions, all topped with a thick gravy. It is a hearty, comforting dish that is enjoyed by people all over the world.

What is Costco shepherd's pie made of? ›

Ingredients: Beef and/or veal, vegetable sauce (water, onion, green peas, corn, seasoning [sugars [glucose solids, dextrose, maltodextrin], flour, modified cornstarch, canola oil, hydrolyzed soy protein, dehydrated vegetables, [ tomato, onion, beet, garlic], modified cellulose, beef extract, disodium guanylate, ...

Where is shepherds pie from traditionally? ›

Many people believe that the peasant housewives invented the pie as an easy way to repackage leftovers from their Sunday roast. The Shepherd Pie is thought to originate from Ireland and the northern parts of England.

Where is shepherds pie made from? ›

shepherd's pie, dish of British Isles origin that makes use of vegetables and chopped meat cooked in a casserole topped with or surrounded by mashed potatoes.

When was the first shepherd's pie made? ›

Shepherd's Pie first came about late in the 1700s and early 1800s. Accordingly, housewives back then were on the frugal side. Much like we do today, they were looking for ways to incorporate those leftovers that husbands and kids would turn up their noses at. The struggle was real back then just like today.

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

Sometime in the 18th century, a dish called “cottage pie” came about somewhere in the vast expanse of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It seems to have originated as a way for folks to make use of leftovers, in order to avoid waste, both of the food and money varieties.

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