Conor’s Favorite Shepherd Pie
Conor, my other half, was born and raised in London. This recipe is a happy accident in our kitchen. As I was making my childhood comfort northern Thai dish, Laab, she said, baby… I miss potatoes, can we do some potatoes dishes sometime. A light bulb went off in my head, yes my dear, how about a shepherd pie tomorrow night? As result is as wonderful as I thought it would be in my head. Conor loves it. I love it and I know you will love it! It’s a notch dress up to an English classic.
Conor’s Favorite Shepherd Pie
Ingredients
POTATO TOPPING:
- 1 ½ – 2 lb. russet potatoes -about 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter -1/2 stick
- 1/3 cup half & half
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 egg yolk
MEAT FILLING:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 stalks lemongrass finely chopped
- 1/2 cup carrots small diced
- 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef or ground lamb
- 1 tablespoon Thaimee Laan seasoning or to taste
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce or to taste
- 2 garlic cloves -minced
- Mint chiffonade
- Makrut lime leaves chiffonade
- ½ cup beef or chicken stock
- ½ cup peas
- 1/2 cup corn kernels
Instructions
- Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined. Set aside
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the olive oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion, lemongrass and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine.
- Add the lamb, Thaimee Laab Chili and fish sauce and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the beef broth, mint Makrut lime leaves, cilantro, peas and corn and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly
- Spread the meat filling evenly into an 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Shave the cheese onto the top. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown.Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.
