Friday, March 29, 2024

In The Kitchen with Kanta: Shepherd’s Pie

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Shepherd’s Pie is an English meal; which is traditionally made with lamb or mutton. However I like to make mine with minced beef.  Shepherd’s Pie is a casserole with a layer of cooked meat and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven until the mashed potatoes are well browned.  It is really easy and tasty to make; and a great idea for your Sunday meal, so try it out.

Cooking time: 50 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • About 3 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 8 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 260g vegetables – diced carrots, corn, peas
  • 680g minced beef
  • 118ml beef broth
  • Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice

Method

Place the potatoes in a medium sized pot, cover with cold water, add a teaspoon of salt and boil until tender, about 20 minutes.  While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large pan, on a medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until tender, about 6 to 10 minutes.  Then add your vegetables, carrots, corn and peas; and cook according to the packet instructions.  Cook the carrots first, because they will take the same time as the onions to cook.  If you are including peas or corn, add them towards the end of cooking of the onions, or after the meat starts to cook, as they take very little cooking time.

Add ground beef to the onions. Cook until it is all brown, Season with salt and pepper.  Now add the beef broth, simmer and reduce the heat to low. Cook uncovered for a further 10 minutes, adding more beef broth if necessary to keep the meat from drying out.

When the potatoes are cooked, remove them from the pot and place them in a bowl with the remaining 4 tbsps of butter. Mash with a fork or potato masher, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the oven to 200°C.  Spread the beef, onions, and vegetables in an even layer in a large baking dish; and then spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the ground beef. Rough up the surface of the mashed potatoes with a fork, you can even use a fork to make creative designs in the mashed potatoes.  Place the Shepherd’s Pie in the oven and cook until browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes.

To add a bit of variation you can sprinkle some grated cheddar cheese over the top of the mashed potatoes before baking.

Serving

Serve hot with your choice of beverage.  Enjoy!

 

Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.

You can find her work on www.kantakakes.comFollow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.

Baking with Kanta - IMG

5 COMMENTS

  1. Nice nice however it sounds like one big cake like pie, would it not be better to use a muffin like pan that way they are smaller?

  2. Sounds easy enough. I will definitely give this a try, might just earn me some “husbandly” brownie points!
    Thanks Kanta!

  3. How can a beautiful lady like her know how to cook? Wished I could find one good Zambian lady that knows how to cook not ivi vibazungu vamene vi pika masaladi chabe.

  4. It’s also English traditional to say, “Red Sky, tonight….must be Sheperds pie tonight.” Of course now a Red Sky is due possibly to pollution than a natural Sundown!

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