Name: Shepherd’s Pie with Irish Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients: 2 tbsp. unsalted butter; 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped; 1 tsp. salt, plus more to taste; 1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour; ½ tsp. black pepper, plus more to taste; 1 cup beef broth; 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce; 1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables; 2 lbs. russet potatoes; 2 tsp. salt, plus more to taste; 6 tbsp. unsalted butter; ⅓ cup whole milk; 1 cup Irish cheddar cheese, shredded; ¼ cup sour cream

1

Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions and ½ tsp. salt, and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened.

2

Add ground beef and minced garlic. Cook the beef, crumbling it into small pieces as it cooks, until browned and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). Carefully drain any excess liquid from the pan, then return the pan to the heat.

3

Stir in flour until it is completely absorbed into the meat, then stir in the remaining ½ tsp. salt, black pepper, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for two minutes.

4

Stir in frozen vegetables and cover the pan with a lid. Let the meat mixture simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12-15 minutes until thickened.

Note: Typical frozen mixed vegetables come as a combination of peas, green beans, carrots, and corn. If you cannot find bagged mixed vegetables, you can use any combination of these vegetables to fit your taste.

5

Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool while you make the mashed potatoes.

1

Wash and peel the potatoes, then cut the peeled potatoes into 1” cubes. Place the potatoes into a large, deep pot, then add cold water until the water covers the potatoes by one inch. Add one teaspoon of salt and bring the pot to a boil.

2

Boil the potatoes until they are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork (about 12-14 minutes). Drain the water from the pot.

3

Add butter and remaining one teaspoon of salt to the potatoes. Mash the butter into the potatoes for a couple of minutes, then stir in whole milk, shredded Irish cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Taste and season with more salt if needed.

1

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Transfer the meat mixture to a 9×9” oven-safe baking dish, then spread it into an even layer.

2

Scoop large spoonfuls of the mashed potatoes onto the top of the meat mixture, and use a spatula or the back of a large spoon to spread the potatoes into an even layer as well.