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Ground Beef Shepherd's Pie

Ground Beef Shepherd's Pie
Beef St. Patrick's Day British Irish Ground Beef Worcestershire Sauce Peas Main Dish Easy
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Beef St. Patrick's Day British Irish Ground Beef Worcestershire Sauce Peas Main Dish Easy
6 servings Easy
Total: Active:
2 Ratings 

Ingredients (12)

  • 1 3/4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, preferably free-range or organic
  • 1/2 cup beef or chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup frozen petite peas
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Nutritional Information
  • Calories577
  • Fat38.79g
  • Saturated fat18.59g
  • Trans fat1.96g
  • Carbs33.03g
  • Fiber3.65g
  • Sugar5.48g
  • Protein24.65g
  • Cholesterol122.62mg
  • Sodium859.91mg
  • Nutritional Analysis per serving (6 servings) Powered by

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A rich, well-seasoned, nicely browned shepherd’s pie is one of the world’s great comfort food dishes. It’s a simple meat stew, spread in a shallow baking dish, covered with mashed potatoes and baked until the whole thing is hot and bubbly, the top golden, crispy around the edges. You begin by making a batch of buttery mashed potatoes and setting those aside, Then you make a simple ground-beef stew with onion, carrot, celery, and sweet frozen peas. Assemble, send to a medium-hot oven for 20 minutes, and dinner is served.

For more savory pies, check out our Beef Short Rib and Ale Pie, Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pies, and Fish Pie.

by Kim Laidlaw
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Tips for Beef and Ground Beef

Tip
How to Thaw Beef
As with most meat, the safest way to thaw beef is in the refrigerator. Small cuts of beef can take up to 24 hours, while larger slabs can take a few days. If you’re in a pinch, frozen beef can be thawed in a bowl or container of lukewarm water. Place the bowl or container in the sink and leave under a running faucet. Never allow raw beef to thaw or sit on a counter or cutting board. Since it takes longer to thaw than most meats, it is more susceptible to bacteria growth.
Read More
1 of 5
Next: How to Freeze Beef
Tip
How to Freeze Beef
In order to effectively freeze beef, you’ll want to limit its exposure to air. This not only prevents the production of freezer burn, but also extends its shelf life to three months or longer. The best way to package beef is to wrap it tightly in freezer paper or plastic wrap. You should then wrap the meat in a layer of aluminum foil or place it in a plastic bag.
Read More
2 of 5
Next: How to Store Beef
Tip
How to Store Beef
For ground beef, keep refrigerated and use within one to two days. It can stay in its original container if the packaging hasn’t been opened. Steaks follow the same protocol, but can last a bit longer at three to five days. It’s actually best to allow a little airflow with stored meat, as tightly-adhered plastic like Saran wrap can make meat sweat and, as a result, less tender. Meat can be transferred to plastic containers, but should be covered loosely.

Never refrigerate raw meat if it’s been sitting out beyond two hours.
Read More
3 of 5
Next: How to Pick Ground Beef
Tip
How to Pick Ground Beef
The possibilities with ground beef are seemingly endless, though you’ll probably want to pay the most attention to cost and fat content. Naturally, the lower the fat content, the higher the price. A leaner meat; however, may not taste as moist and flavorful, so keep that in mind if you’re making a meal that’s prone to dryness (like meatloaf or hamburgers). Sometimes the extra fat can make or break a dish.
Read More
4 of 5
Next: How to Thaw Ground Beef
Tip
How to Thaw Ground Beef
Like other meats, the best way to thaw ground beef is to leave it in the refrigerator. If you’re in a pinch, take out your frozen meat and place it on a plate under running cold water. A microwave may also work, but it is likely to start cooking your meat, which you’ll want to avoid.
Read More
5 of 5
Next: How to Thaw Beef

Instructions

  1. 1Place the potatoes in a large saucepan of cold salted water, bring to the boil over medium-high heat and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain in a colander, return the potatoes to the saucepan, add 4 tablespoons of the butter and the milk, and mash with a potato masher until smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt. Cover to keep warm until ready to use.
  2. 2To make the filling, in a large frying pan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and a big pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring, until browned. Pour off any fat, then add the broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the peas.
  3. 3Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a -quart shallow baking dish. Add the beef mixture in an even layer and then top with the mashed potatoes in an even layer. Use a fork to “ruffle” the top. Dot with the the remaining butter.
  4. 4Bake until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
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How to Make the Easiest and Best Cottage Pie
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In this episode of Chow-to, Guillermo visits a Greenwich Village institution for all things English, Tea and Sympathy. He meets with Nicky Perry (owner and founder) to learn her family’s easy recipe for beef shepherd’s pie (which technically in modern British English is a cottage pie). No matter what you call it, this quarantine-friendly comfort dish uses some ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and will make you feel cozy all year round. This is an excellent way to make something delicious and inexpensive (you only need ground meat, potatoes, carrots and frozen peas!) that will last for a couple of days, making it perfect for cooking during lockdown.
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