Over the years I have had quite a few people ask for my Shepherd’s Pie recipe.  Well, I don’t really have a recipe, per se.  The dish sometimes varies depending on the ingredients that I have on-hand.  But I use a general overview of the whole thing and here it is:

Ray’s Shepherds Pie Recipe:

1. Saute some fresh onions and carrots. Then brown some hamburger meat and mix the two together. Then use some sort of a gravy/sauce making powder like Lipton’s Recipe Secrets beefy onion mix (or Bisto in UK or a Knorr braten sauce in Germany) and some water (of course season to taste.  I use some Italian seasonings, salt, pepper, paprika, etc). Let it boil for a while until there is a thick gravy/sauce, as desired. Add some frozen peas to the mix and let set just a couple of seconds more.  (Video is below)
2. When it is the right consistency for you, add the meat to a baking pan. Flatten it out. Add a layer of corn over the meat. Level this over the meat, too.
3. 2. As the Onions/Carrots/Meat are cooking. Boil some potatoes. How many will depend on the amount of meat/size of pie you want. Let them over-cook a little and then drain.    (Video is below)
4. As the potatoes are draining. I add some chopped bacon to the pot that I used the boil the potatoes and let it cook for a while. Then, add the potatoes back to the pan with butter, milk and cheese (of course season to taste. I use onion salt, pepper, whatever I feel like). Then mash it all together. You will want to use a bit more milk than usual for a nice creamy texture because you then…
5. Layer the potato on top of the meat/vegetables and sprinkle with paprika or whatever you like. It is helpful to use a large metal spoon to layer on the potato. You can’t press too hard or you will push the meat and veggies away from the bottom of the pan. Use a lateral motion.    (Video is below)
6. Make sure the potato is directly up against the sides and corners of the pan, completely sealing in the meat and veggies. Then bake until the juices start boiling up the sides of the pan and onto the potato!
7. Take out of the oven, let sit 10 minutes (the hardest part).
8. Eat.

I usually use 500g of hamburger/hachfleish and about 10-12 medium potatoes…

Video:

A video posted by Ray Pasnen (@raypasnen) on Feb 23, 2016 at 3:40am PST