I have given this recipe the rather grand title of “Very impressive Shepherds Pie”, just for the grandeur of the ingredients and the taste. It may not be a quick everyday recipe and I know it is far easier to buy the mince and just add a shepherds pie packet mix, but this really is worth the effort, especially if you have left over lamb from Sundays dinner.

I will never be able to make a boring shepherds pie again, I even went to the effort of buying the lamb and cooking it the day before just so I could make this dish, but will try in future to maybe have lamb Sunday, but buy a big enough joint to have enough left.

There were even ingredients I have never heard of, ‘mushroom ketchup’, this was easily purchased via Ocado, but the anchovy essence I could not find, so cheated and used the oil drained from a tin of anchovy fillets, it may not be anywhere close to being similar, but hey, it tasted good and thats all that matters really.

I came across this recipe whilst watching the Great British Food Revival, it looked so yummy I just had to make it.

Hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.

Buon appetito

 

 

 

 

 

For the filling
2 onions, quartered
2 carrots, peeled and quartered
2 sticks celery, chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled
4 tbsp rapeseed oil or olive oil
450g/1lb leftover roast lamb
1 tbsp plain flour
150ml/5fl oz red wine
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp anchovy essence
1 tsp mushroom ketchup
1-2 tsp redcurrant jelly (optional)
1 x 400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes
300ml/10½fl oz lamb stock or gravy
salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the mash topping
750g/1½lb floury potatoes
50ml/2fl oz milk
50g/2oz butter

Preparation method
For the filling, place the onions, carrots, celery and garlic into a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.

Heat the oil in a large pan or casserole dish over a medium heat and add the vegetables. Fry for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened but not coloured.

While the vegetables are cooking, pulse the lamb meat in the food processor until roughly chopped and add to the vegetables in the pan. Heat through for 1-2 minutes, then stir in the flour. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

Pour in the wine, increase the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until most of the alcohol has evaporated. Stir in the thyme, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy essence, mushroom ketchup, redcurrant jelly (if using), chopped tomatoes and stock or gravy. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.

For the mash topping, peel and cut the potatoes into chunks, place into a medium pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and cook for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

Drain the potatoes well and return to the pan. Place over a low heat to dry out the potatoes slightly, then remove from the heat and add the milk and butter. Mash with a potato masher or fork, then season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Spoon the lamb mixture into an ovenproof dish and layer over the mashed potato. Smooth out the topping with the back of a spoon. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden-brown.