Shepherds Pie Braised Lamb (Printable)
Tender lamb slow-cooked with vegetables topped by buttery mashed potatoes, baked to golden perfection.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Braised Lamb
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→ For the Vegetable Filling
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→ For the Potato Topping
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# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the lamb on all sides in batches; set aside.
03 - In the same pot, add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
04 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Deglaze with red wine, scraping up brown bits. Simmer until reduced by half, 3–4 minutes.
05 - Return lamb to the pot. Add stock, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cover. Simmer gently for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in peas, parsnips or turnips, mushrooms, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and sauce is thickened. Adjust seasoning.
07 - Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain well.
08 - Mash potatoes with butter, warmed milk, salt, and white pepper until smooth. Stir in Parmesan if using.
09 - Spoon lamb and vegetable mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the top, using a fork to create peaks.
10 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until filling is bubbling and potatoes are golden. For extra browning, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end.
11 - Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
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- The lamb becomes impossibly tender after slow braising in wine and herbs
- That golden potato crust gets irresistible crispy edges while staying fluffy underneath
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- Dont skip browning the lamb in batches, otherwise the meat will steam instead of develop that deep, caramelized flavor
- The potato topping needs those fork-created ridges to get properly crispy and golden in the oven
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- Ground lamb works if you are short on time, just brown it thoroughly and reduce the simmering to 20 minutes
- A splash of cream in the potatoes makes them even more luxurious for special occasions