Meaty Shepherd's Pie

alexisknibbs

June 3

Home cooked meals are always the best and Shepherds pie is one of those yummy dinners. It's a filling meal that is tasty and nutritious. Recently I've been shopping in Aldi where they sell mince beef in 400 gram packs. I don't mind this but I always feel like it's to much for 3 people and to little for 4 people. Therefore I decided to bulk the meal out with chorizo and Parma ham. These ingredient not only made this dish more filling but also very tasty too. We loved it and we hope you enjoy it too.

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Equipment

Sharp knife
Chopping board
Vegetable peeler
Large saucepans x 2
Tablespoon
Teaspoon
Stirring spoon
Colander
Potato masher
Pirex dish or dish for serving

Ingredients

Mince Beef x 400 - 500g
Parma ham x 4 slices
Chorizo x 160g
Onions x 2
Carrots x 2
Red pepper x 1
Tomatoes x 1 400g tin
Tomato puree x 2 tbsp
Tamari x 2 tbsp
Dried mixed herbs x 1 tsp
Potatoes x 600g
Green beans x 200g (Frozen or Fresh)
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil for the potatoes and frying pan

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C or gas mark 5.
Peel, slice and dice the red onion.
Next peel the carrot and grate it.
Cut the top from the red pepper and remove the core and the stalk.
Slice and dice the flesh.
Score the chorizo lengthways then peel off the skin.
Slice the chorizo into half centimetre pieces.
Now slice the Parma ham.
Put the large saucepan onto a high heat on the hob and add oil to the base.
When the pan is hot put the chorizo and Parma ham in.
Fry these ingredients until golden brown and slightly crispy.
Remove from the pan leave the oil behind if possible.
Put the onions into the base of the pan and fry until they start to soften.
Next add in the red pepper and fry until this vegetable starts to soften.
Now add in the carrot and let it heat through for a minute or so.
Add in the mince beef and fry until it turn brown all over.
You may need to turn the heat down and add a little water if the ingredients start to stick.
Pour over the tomatoes and add in the tomato puree, tamari or soy sauce and dried mixed herbs.
Stir all these ingredients together and add back in the chorizo and ham.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Again stir these ingredients together.
Turn the heat down to low.
Leave the sauce to simmer on the hob.
Peel the potatoes and cut into 1 inch pieces.
Put the other large saucepan onto the hob and add water to the base.
Turn the heat up to high and bring the pan to the boil.
Place the potatoes in the boiling water and again bring the pan to the boil.
Add a pinch or two of salt and turn the heat down to a simmer.
Let the potatoes cook for 10 - 15 minutes or until the fall from a fork.
Remove from the heat and drain through the colander.
Put the potatoes back into the pan and add a little olive or butter and milk if you want too.
Mash the potatoes until they are smooth ish.
Remove the meat from the hob and pour into the pirex dish.
Spread the potatoes as evenly as possible over the meat.
Put the pirex dish into the oven and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown.
Meanwhile cook the green beans in boiling water for 3 - 5 minutes.
Carefully remove from the oven.
Serve with the green beans and enjoy.

Meaty Shepherd's Pie

Meaty Shepherd's Pie was a delicious meal that we all enjoyed. It was slightly time consuming to prepare. The efforts were worth the results. Plus once it's in the oven it's done useless you want green beans to go with it. The dish could also be made and frozen before cooking it. It could be made on a weekend and stored in the freezer until you want to defrost it. Of course, if made very scrummy leftovers too. However you decide to eat this dish, as always, please enjoy. Thank you xxx