Meat Pie

Prep time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6 portions
Cook time: 45 minutes
Can be frozen
INGREDIENTS
Filling
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 2 to 3 medium carrots
- 1 to 1.5 lb lean ground beef
- 2 gloves garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon marjoram
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup green peas
Potatoes
- 3 to 4 medium yellow gold potatoes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon fine herbs: parsley or chives (just one kind)
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
TIPS and thoughts
- I make those pies in individual servings instead of a large dish. It is more convenient to freeze and take out just the right amount for a meal.
STEPS
- Melt butter into a frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Dice onion and add to frying pan.
- Dice carrots and add to onions.
- Add beef and cook until browned.
- Mince garlic and add to frying pan mix.
- Add rest of ingredients: bay leaves, thyme, oregano, marjoram, salt, pepper, Worcestershire, beef broth and green peas.
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer while you move on to making the mashed potatoes.
- Peel potatoes and cut into cubes.
- Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water with salt to make water fairly salty (about 1 tablespoon).
- Add lid and set over medium-high heat, and bring to boil.
- Cook until the potatoes are tender and easily broken with a fork, approximately 15 minutes.
- Turn on oven to bake at 375° F.
- Once the potatoes are tender, remove from heat and drain water.
- Purée potatoes with a masher or potato ricer.
- Add butter and cream to potatoes and blend well.
- Mince herbs and add to potatoes.
- Mix in egg yolk.
- Grate Parmesan and stir in potatoes.
- By then, your filling should have thickened a bit.
- Take 6 ovenproof containers such as mini-cocotte or tin containers and divide filing into them.
- Top with mashed potatoes.
- Put shepherd’s pies in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.