How to Make the Best-Ever Shepherd's Pie, According to Gordon Ramsay (and His Mom)
Shepherd's pie is the food equivalent of a cozy hug, thanks to its savory blend of meat, mashed potatoes and vegetables. When you put this dish on the table, you know people are going to dig in.
Gordon Ramsay is also a big fan, calling the dish "a great British classic." He even sells a frozen shepherd's pie to make it easier to get dinner on the table.
But if you're in the mood for a DIY dinner, look no further than Ramsay's go-to shepherd's pie recipe. We tapped into the Hell's Kitchen creator's recipe archive to find his special hacks for creating this dish, along with input from his mom. (Lots of wine is involved, by the way.) Try one or both of these methods to turn out a next-level shepherd's pie.
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How to Make Gordon Ramsay's Classic Shepherd's Pie
Ramsay focuses on just a few key ingredients for his first take on shepherd's pie: Minced lamb, onion, carrots, garlic and potatoes. He kicks things off by heating olive oil in a pan and adding the minced lamb, stirring it around until it's browned.
That's followed by some salt, plus some grated onion and carrots. Ramsay then uses a zester to mince garlic over the meat combo. Because they're in such small pieces, the vegetables end up blending into the meat, adding tons of flavor. "That's the secret behind a really great shepherd's pie—it's all in the mince," Ramsay says.
After that, Ramsay adds a few dashes of Worcester sauce (aka Worcestershire sauce), a generous squeeze of tomato paste, and a big glug of red wine. That's followed by some sprigs of thyme and chopped rosemary. Let the dish simmer for a bit to let the wine evaporate, then add some chicken stock and simmer the filling for 3 to 4 minutes.
Next, it's on to the potatoes. Ramsay peels and chops his potatoes, then adds them to a boiling pot of water. Once they're tender, he mashes and seasons them, then adds two egg yolks, along with his "secret ingredient," Parmesan cheese.
The mashed potatoes go on top of the meat mixture and get topped with salt, pepper, and more Parm. Ramsay uses a fork to fluff up the top of the dish, before putting it in the oven at 350° for 18 to 20 minutes. The dish is done when the filling is heated through and the potatoes are crispy and browned in spots.
Related: 20 Creative and Comforting Shepherd's Pie Recipes for St. Patrick's Day
How to Make Gordon Ramsay's Shepherd's Pie With Braised Peas and Carrots Recipe
Ramsay also made a mostly vegetable-free shepherd's pie alongside his mom, saving the vegetables for the side. This dish also uses minced lamb that's browned in a pan, along with minced garlic. Ramsay drains the meat before frying leeks and onions in a pan.
He then adds Worcestershire sauce and a blob of tomato paste to the mixture, before adding the browned meat back in. That's followed by a massive amount of red wine—it looks like half the bottle. After that, Ramsay covers the mixture in chicken stock, adds some rosemary and lets the mixture simmer.
The potatoes are boiled, drained and mashed, then he adds butter and chopped spring onions (aka green onions). The potatoes are then spread on top of the meat, and lightly roughed-up with a fork for a crispy texture. In this version, Ramsay grates some cheddar cheese on top before popping the dish in the oven for 20 minutes at 350°.
Because there weren't many vegetables in the shepherd's pie, Ramsay made braised peas and carrots to go alongside this version of the comfort food classic. (In the video, he noted that his mom always served two vegetables with dinner when he was growing up.) Ramsey braises the veggies in the oven, with mint butter on top and serves them alongside the shepherd's pie.
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