Shepherd's pie recipe

cheeks

I know it wouldn't be called shepherds pie but instead of using minced beef or lamb i sometimes use minced Turkey. Its really cheap and Turkey is one of the 'superfoods' so its very healthy too! I sometimes use turkey in lasagne too

Penny-Pincher!!

Bongedone wrote: »

I have never heard of baked beans in shepherds pie. My mother used to put them in chilli after washing the ketchup off. I don't think she realised there was such a thing as kidney beans. Was not a great fan of her chilli.

The baked beans in the Shepherds Pie is lovely. Sometimes I put cheddar on the top and put under the grill.

PP
xx

Churchmouse

Pink-winged wrote: »

Hi charleybabes,

I dry fry the lamb mince and drain off any fat. Then add some chopped onion, mushrooms, carrots and leeks. Let it cook for about 5 minutes then add worcester sauce, black pepper and lamb stock (or a lamb stock cube disolved in water). If the mixture is too sloppy thicken with a little cornflour and then add to the dish you intend to use. Make the mashed potatoes as you normally would (sometimes I add scallions) and spread over the lamb mixture. Add grated cheese to the top (optional). Pop it into the oven for about 20 - 25 minutes until the potatoes are beginning to colour.

Pink

:T I could have typed this myself, it's exactly how I make it. And if I want cottage pie, it's exactly the same, but using minced beef:rotfl:

Stephen_Leak

cheeks wrote: »

I know it wouldn't be called shepherds pie but instead of using minced beef or lamb i sometimes use minced Turkey. Its really cheap and Turkey is one of the 'superfoods' so its very healthy too! I sometimes use turkey in lasagne too

Bernard Matthews' pie? Maybe not.

I've used some reduced price turkey mince, with an OXO cube to literally beef it up a bit, in either a Spag' Bol' or a Chilli Con Carne. I can't remember which - I certainly couldn't taste which, especially if was the chilli.

PS. Pork mince = Swineherd's pie. :rolleyes2

JoJoB

dan1979 wrote: »

What ones?

I'm on a constant quest to find veggie meals in the name of saving money and making me wife eat more veg.

In my store cupboard I have started stockpiling various beans/pulses. I soak them the night before I intend to make the dish, or (as i did yesterday) soak loads overnight, then cook them the next day and freeze them in sandwich bags, so that I have a constant cooked supply whenever i want to make veggie chilli/shepherds pie/tacos/wraps etc.

After much trial and error I've found the following ratio gives the nearest to a mince/meaty texture: 1/2 green lentils, 1/4 adzuki beans, 1/4 mixed beans. You can do half and half lentils and adzuki, I just find it's nice to add a bit of interest with some mixed beans as well (and gives more variety nutrient-wise). Sometimes I have added veggie-mince into the equation too, but personally I've found I prefer it without. Substitute meat doesn't really do it for me and the beans/lentils are loads better for protein and nutrients. Down to personal taste really, i just find veggiemince a bit "soggy".

I've found some Bisto gravy is suitable for vegetarians so while I add a little of this to dishes like shepherds pie to give it slightly meaty undertones - not loads though, don't want it to jjust taste of Bisto!

Veggie chilli is also a good one for sneaking in lots of veg and beans/pulses. I make the same as the shepherds pie but just with mild chilli powder (I find you can use more of this for the chilli flavour than the hot one - so you get the flavour without blowing your head off), cayenne pepper (little amount), paprika and cumin. And extra kidney beans obviously. I keep my eye out in tesco for those bags of mixed diced stewing vegetables and if they are reduced i buy a bag and chuck it into a big veggie chilli. The bags usually contain leeks, baby onions, carrots, swede etc. Yesterday I also had a bit of sweetcorn that needed using up so i chucked that in as well. It's a great way to get rid of whatever needs using up in the fridge! I made a big chilli yesterday, froze 8 portions of it and have 2 portions for dinner today. Each portion would have cost about 30p max!

charleybabes

thank you everyone for your ideas and help

im just going to look over them all now and pick the easiest haha!!!

some lovely tastey looking ones there though..!!!!

Bongedone

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

The baked beans in the Shepherds Pie is lovely. Sometimes I put cheddar on the top and put under the grill.

PP
xx

I will run it past the OH about trying it. Not sure she will give me the go ahead. I suppose it will make a healthy version due to the fibre.

Do you drain any of the tomato sauce off ?

exlibris

I use chicken breasts from the butcher which I chop with onion in my Food processor.. As they can be expensive I pad them with soya granules and/or lentils and grated carrots. If I have some mushrooms I will chop and add them. I fry the meat mix to brown and then simmer in any suitable stock I have in the freezer. I season with a little pepper. I haven't used salt for cooking in 15 yrs.

HTH

cheeks wrote: »

I know it wouldn't be called shepherds pie but instead of using minced beef or lamb i sometimes use minced Turkey. Its really cheap and Turkey is one of the 'superfoods' so its very healthy too! I sometimes use turkey in lasagne too

gladysrocker

I second the Gordon Ramsey one. I only started making it a few weeks ago and have been ordered never to make it any other way!
Very tempted to make one I saw the other day though that had cauliflower cheese on top, looked delish.

charleybabes

well i made my shepherds pie last night.. i used 2 oxos and boiling water and grated carrot and onion into my mince and grated some cheese and sprinkled pepper over the mash

it was gorgeous !!!!!!!

it was much nicer than the one id made before where i used the packet mix.. it was more tastier..

i had enough left over to save for my little boys lunch today which he had today and ate the lot!!

so thank you all again for your suggestions .. it was a great success :T