slice of Shepherd’s pie

Ah, Shepherd’s Pie — classic comfort food in a neat, sliceable form! 🥧🐑 (Technically, “shepherd’s” uses lamb; “cottage pie” uses beef.) It’s a savory meat and veggie filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, baked until golden.Here’s a classic sliceable Shepherd’s Pie recipe:

---

🥔 Shepherd’s Pie (Sliceable Version)

🧂 Ingredients (serves 4–6)

For the filling:

• 1 lb (450 g) ground lamb (or beef for cottage pie)

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2 carrots, diced

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 cup beef or lamb broth

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 2 tbsp olive oil

For the mashed potato topping:

• 2 lbs (900 g) potatoes, peeled and chopped

• 4 tbsp butter

• ½ cup milk (or cream for richer topping)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

---

🥣 Instructions

1. Preheat oven

• 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×9-inch or similar baking dish.

2. Make the filling

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

2. Sauté onions, carrots, and garlic until softened.

3. Add ground lamb (or beef) and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.

4. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, broth, thyme, peas, salt, and pepper.

5. Simmer 5–10 minutes until mixture thickens slightly. Set aside.

3. Make the mashed potato topping

1. Boil potatoes until tender (about 15–20 minutes).

2. Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper.

3. Optional: Stir in cheddar cheese for extra flavor.

4. Assemble the pie

1. Spread the meat and veggie filling evenly in the baking dish.

2. Carefully spread mashed potatoes over the top. Use a fork to create texture for browning.

5. Bake

• Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

• Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes to get a crispier top.

6. Slice and serve

• Let the pie rest 5–10 minutes before slicing — this helps keep the layers intact.

• Serve with extra gravy or a side salad if desired.

---

💡 Tips

• For a silky mashed potato topping, use cream and a touch of sour cream.

• Add corn or diced celery to the filling for extra texture.

• Use a spatula with sharp edges to cut clean slices.

---

If you want, I can also give a single-serving shepherd’s pie in a ramekin version — perfect for individual slices that look like restaurant portions. Do you want that version too?