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LAMB & MASHED POTATOES
Level 2
Shepherd's Lamb-in-the-Pie
Serves 4-6
- a Marlene Samuels creation -
Early cookbooks described "cottage pie" as a means for using any type of leftover roasted meat inside a pie dish lined with mashed potato and then topped with a mashed potato crust. Our Shepherd's Pie treatment is based upon at least 2 cups of previously roasted meat – at least 1 cup of which should be lamb - mixed with mushrooms and carrots, topped with mashed potatoes, French fried onions and baked. If you don’t have quite enough Easter lamb on hand, supplement with cooked and drained ground beef or - our preference - lightly browned and drained bulk sausage.
The second expendable edible here - leftover mashed potatoes - forms the base. But again, if you don’t have enough on hand, instant mashed potatoes prepared with milk and a bit of sour cream or yogurt works beautifully. For firmer mashed potatoes, go short on the liquid.
3 Tbsp. butter
1 cup onions, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped
1 tsp. dried rubbed sage
1 cup mushrooms, stemmed, cleaned and cubed
2-3 cups cooked lamb, finely chopped
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 cup broth, chicken or beef
4-6 cups mashed potatoes
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1 (2.8 oz.) can French fried onions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease a round or square oven proof casserole.
- In a large skillet melt 2 Tbsp. of the butter until it begins to brown.
- Add onions, sauté until soft about 3-4 minutes stirring with wooden spoon.
- Add herbs and mushrooms, continue to cook additional 3 minutes.
- When mushrooms begin to release their moisture, add all meat.
- Turn heat to high, add wine and broth and bring to a boil.
- Stir well, turn heat to low and cook 10-15 minutes or until moisture is reduced by half.
- While meat is cooking, place half the mashed potatoes into the bottom of the casserole pan. Using a rubber spatula or your hand, press potatoes evenly into the bottom of the pan.
- When meat is ready, carefully spoon all of the mixture on top of the potato base.
- Place remaining mashed potatoes on top of the meat layer, smoothing it out with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the potato top with the French fried onions, dot with remaining butter and place in oven.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until top of casserole is golden.
Serving suggestion: Plate shepherd's pie with grilled root vegetables and a dollop of chutney or mango salsa on the side. Add a salad dressed with a light vinaigrette dressing and dinner is on the table!
