Monday 23 April 2012

Shepherd’s Pie with leftover roast beef




Yes, I know shepherd’s pie is usually made with lamb.  But what I had left over was beef so I gave it a go.  It turned out great but I do warn you if you try it that it takes ages to chop the beef up into small pieces by hand.  Maybe I need to get a gadget that would do it for me – but bench space is at a premium.

So I sautéed onion, carrot, garlic, pumpkin (we use it as a vegetable in my part of the world), a thumb of ginger (chopped). 

Then I cooked my potatoes (2), sweet potato (1) (or as we call it kumara) plus a large whole clove of garlic.  When they were just tender I added some florets of cauliflower for no more than 3 minutes.

While the potatoes etc were cooking I chopped up the leftover beef, being picky about cutting out fat and sinew.  Not an exciting job – I suggest if you are doing it by hand you watch tv at the same time.

I added the meat to the onion mixture, 1 can of crushed tomatoes (I like Italian ones), salt, pepper, a tablespoon or so of Worcestershire sauce, a splash of red wine and some peas (frozen).  I cheated a bit by adding a packet cottage pie mix but you could use a dried tomato soup packet or a bit of cornstarch mixed with cold water.

Then into an oiled lasagne pan.  For the topping you mash up the potatoes, sweet potato and cauliflower well.  Do them how you like them.  I added butter, crème fraiche and a little parmesan.  Dollop it over the top of the meat mixture as evenly as you can without getting too carried away about it.

Sprinkle a little breadcrumb on top, pepper and salt and a few knobs of butter.





20 comments:

  1. This looks wonderful! I love using pumpkin. My daughter adds pumpkin to her mac and cheese.

    I am 'sharing' you with my Facebook Friends!

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    1. Thanks, Linda - hope today goes well for you all.

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  2. I have yet to try to make a shepherd's pie. Glad to know the beef option is a valid one. Nice post :)

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    1. If you make one, you'll find it yummy. You can also make it with ground beef (whether leftover or fresh). If fresh, you just need to brown it with the onion first.

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  3. This is a great version of shepherd's pie. I love squash (pumpkin or other) and both lamb and beef are welcome in this house. :)

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    1. Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting

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  4. Looks delicious! We'd enjoy your version of Shepherd's pie, my husband's favorite is with beef.

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    1. On balance I prefer it with lamb - but this worked really well.

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  5. Pumpkin is an interesting ingredient, I would not have thought to use it here.

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    1. We Kiwis love our pumpkin - we eat it as roast pumpkin all the time - and almost never as a sweet dish! there's no accounting for taste!

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  6. That looks wonderful -- the sweet potato gave it a nice color.

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  7. I'm not very good at taking leftovers and making it into something different! I do love a good shepherd's pie though. I think we call a pie like this made with beef cottage pie!

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    1. Hi Marg. I call a cottage pie, one made with ground beef (ie not leftovers) and with a potato top. Shepherd's Pie is similar but made normally with leftover cooked lamb

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  8. It looks like it turned out soo well!
    Thanks for linking up to This Flourishing Life's Menu Monday :)

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  9. We always made sheperd's pie made from beef ( know it's called something different when it's made with beef)and she always called it that. Your recipe reminds me of my mother's and I haven't had it in ages! Thanks for sharing this with the real food community at Whole Food Wednesdays.

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  10. We prefer the beef to the lamb, yours looks delicious!

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  11. Great use of your leftovers. I love recipes that don't let anything go to waste. Please bring this by my foodie friday party today.

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  12. This looks delicious!! Thanks for linking up to Tasty Thursdays at The Mandatory Mooch. Can't wait to see what you link up this week. Thanks, Nichi

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  13. Carole ~ I love reading how you make things in your part of the world. It's so interesting and gives me new ideas!

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