With Leftover Pot Roast And Mashed Potatoes, You Have The Start Of A Filling French Dish

Pot roast is one of the most satisfying savory dishes you can make in an oven, especially if you kick it up with this flavorful 1911 sauce. That said, you almost always end up with a pile of leftovers. If you prepared it as part of a big family, odds are you'll also end up with some mashed potatoes to play with, in which case you're well on your way to assembling a classic, incredibly delicious French shepherd's pie.

The classic French version of this is hachis Parmentier, a French casserole of chopped beef beneath a layer of silky mashed potatoes (which you can make Italian-style with a bit of nutmeg). Bake it in the oven until the potatoes turn golden, and yesterday's meal becomes tonight's delight. The name hints at the dish's origins. Hâcher means to chop, while Parmentier is a reference to Antoine Augustin Parmentier, the French pharmacist and agricultural researcher who championed potatoes as food. The Palace of Versailles documents his efforts to combat food shortages and his research into potato cultivation.

Shepherd's pie is one of the best ways to repurpose leftovers, and to get started, you'll want to chop or shred your roast into pieces. If you crave an oniony filling, soften some chopped onions in butter, stir in a little flour, then cook briefly before adding a splash of beef stock. This is also a good spot to add leftover carrots or even a bit of tomato paste and garlic for extra flavor. Once the liquid has reduced, fold in your beef to create a rich, cohesive filling.

It's then just a matter of spreading the mixtures in a baking dish and topping with your leftover mashed potatoes. For an added crunch, you can top with breadcrumbs moistened in melted butter or ghee. Grated cheese is also a great way to elevate the flavor of your potatoes while ensuring a bubbly, golden brown color and melted cheese texture. Try a Gruyère or fontina, or sprinkle some mozzarella. Cheddar is also a natural ally of potatoes in almost any form, and a little garlic can add flavor to your buttered breadcrumbs.

Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes until the topping is golden and the casserole is warmed through. For best results, serve it hot out of the oven. The best shepherd's pie recalls all the best elements of the original ingredients while fusing them into a gestalt that becomes the perfect, cozy comfort food.