The holidays mean leftovers, leftovers and more leftovers. Which makes this recipe perfect. It also is the perfect recipe when you have a lot of random vegetables that are about to go bad and need to use up some leftover meat from the night before. As with many of my recipes that I teach in my classes, this one does not require exact measurements. I teach in my classes how to cook, not follow a recipe. Being able to cook means seeing a final dish when you look at a variety of ingredients. Knowing how to season a dish, taste and adjust the flavor on the go is a lifelong skill that I love teaching. But most of all, once you become a cook and not just a recipe reader, you will find the joy in cooking that is indescribable. Contact me to set up a class for you and your friends!
Shepherds Pie
Ingredients
- This recipe is meant to help use up leftovers or clean out the produce drawer- exact amounts don't matter which is why it is a perfect "throw together" dinner.
For potato topping
- Leftover mashed potatoes or a few pounds boiled potatoes
- A few spoonfuls of sour cream ideally Kalona Supernatural or similar brand of grass fed sour cream
- 1 or 2 egg yolks beaten
- 1/2-1 cup cream/half &half/whole milk/ broth/coconut cream
- salt and pepper
Filling
- chopped veggies: carrots onions, corn, peas, green beans, celery...
- meat turkey, ground beef, chicken, ham
- paprika
- garlic powder
- thyme
- sage
- salt and pepper
Gravy
- a few T grass fed butter
- equal amount flour
- 1- 1 1/2 T Worcestershire just pour some in, exact amount doesn't matter
- 1-2 cups chicken vegetable or beef broth, preferably homemade stock.
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For mashed potato topping
- boil potatoes until a fork can easily slide into it, drain and mash together with cream, sour cream, salt and pepper to taste and egg yolks
Filling
- Saute in butter onions, carrots and other raw vegetables in a large cast iron pan. Add in herbs and spices and any frozen or cooked vegetables. If meat is not already cooked, cook first and add to the vegetables.
- In a small pan heat the butter until melted and whisk in flour. Slowly add in broth and worcestershire sauce. Add to vegetables and meat and adjust flavors to taste. I sometimes add in some red pepper or cayenne for some spice. Spoon potatoes on top and broil in the oven until golden brown.