Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato Crust is the perfect fall dinner. It’s an Irish inspired one pot meal that’s earthy, satisfying and easy.
My husband and I spent a little time in England when we were just married. He was in graduate school in London and we rented a tiny flat a few tube stops away in Wimbledon…on Crooked Billet, to be exact. We lived next door to a pub, and there was a huge park, the common, right at the end of the lane. We shopped on the High Street, at the butcher, the cheese shop, the fishmonger, we ate endless fish and chips and Indian take out, and we developed a soft spot for classic British farmhouse dishes like this. It’s also known as Cottage Pie, and the name suggests humble origins…cheap and plentiful potatoes were a staple food of 19th century rural farm workers who lived in small ‘cottages’ dotting the countryside.
I made this all the time when our kids were little, usually the classic way, with ground beef and a mashed potato crust. This one is one of a thousand versions you can come up with, by varying the meat and veg, as well as the topping. I’m loving pale sweet potatoes lately. They have a more delicate flavor and less pronounced sweetness than the dark orange variety. I really love the light lemony color of this crust. Scatter fresh thyme leaves across it and you have a rustic masterpiece.
Classic shepherd’s pie contains onion and carrot. I bumped up the vegetable presence by adding leek, shallot, and cremini mushrooms.
I intended to use little chunks of lean lamb, but Whole Foods didn’t have any, so I went with ground lamb. Fresh thyme and fresh sage gives the gravy a wonderful flavor.
Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato Crust
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes about 1 1/2 lbs
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground lamb or a mix of ground lamb and ground beef
- 1 medium onion cut in wedges
- 2 shallots cut in wedges
- 2 leeks cleaned and sliced
- 2 large carrots sliced
- 8 cremini mushrooms quartered
- several sprigs fresh thyme leaves removed
- several leaves fresh sage chopped
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp flour use a gluten free flour if desired
- 1/3 cup red wine
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup half and half or milk more if necessary
- salt and fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- Peel the potatoes and cut them in large chunks. Put them in a saucepan, cover with water and cook until they are completely tender. A sharp knife should pierce them easily.
- Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed pan. Brown the lamb, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Add the rest of the vegetables and saute for several minutes until the veggies start to soften.
- Add the fresh herbs, then remove the meat and veggies from the pan and set aside while you make the gravy.
- Melt the butter in the same pan, then add in the flour and cook for a minute or two, whisking.
- Whisk in the wine and stock, and heat to a simmer, stirring constantly. When the sauce thickens, add the vegetables and meat back into the pot.
- Cover and simmer for a few minutes, and check the seasoning.
- Mash the sweet potatoes with the butter and half and half. Use a hand held mixer to get a smooth consistency. Add more milk or half and half if necessary. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the lamb and vegetable mixture to a deep dish pie plate, or a casserole. Top with the mashed sweet potatoes.
- Bake for about 30-40 minutes, until browned and bubbling. Finish under the broiler if you want more brown color.
What’s your favorite fall one pot dinner?
13 Comments
city
February 27, 2013 at 12:35 pmthanks for share..
Anonymous
October 22, 2012 at 9:54 pmHi, I was inspired by your post to make fish pie with a sweet potato topping (I am trying to eat more fish). It was delicious! I especially loved how the sweet potato browns up so nicely.
Thank you!
DN in NYC
grace
October 12, 2012 at 7:54 pmi like my meat and potatoes any way i can get ’em. if they happen to come together in one dish, well, that’s just peachy. 🙂
Thyme (Sarah)
October 10, 2012 at 4:23 pmYour experience in England must have been just dreamy! We had a similar experience when our two were toddlers. We were on a family farm in Wales. It was as idyllic as can be and I remember the being introduced to the cottage pies and influences of Indian food culture even Wales. Yours looks absolutely delicious.
Magnolia Verandah
October 10, 2012 at 6:06 amI love Shepherds Pie and made it quite a lot when the children all lived at home. It is still a favourite and is perfect to feed hoards of people. Yours looks particularly delicious – love the swirling potato – lovely.
From Beyond My Kitchen Window
October 10, 2012 at 10:20 amI love Shepherds Pie and like you made a lot of it when my kids were younger. The pale sweet potatoes look interesting. Nice recipe!
Stephanie
October 10, 2012 at 10:15 amMy husband would love this. This reminds me of great pub food in Ireland. I’ve been meaning to make a vegetarian version forever. I have to do that this fall/winter. I love the idea of using sweet potatoes. I made a version one time that had a mashed banana and nutmeg with the sweet potatoes. Different-very sweet. Great photos.
Rose
October 10, 2012 at 4:36 amLooks delicious! My favourite one pot winter dish would have to be pork & cabbage. A side of polenta is even better with it.
Chris
October 9, 2012 at 7:02 pmThat crust looks perfect. This is the second shepherds pie I have seen in the last hour, must be getting cooler weather, ha ha.
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen
October 10, 2012 at 12:17 amthat is the prettiest shepherd’s pie I have EVER seen! isn’t it just the best dish!! your’s sounds wonderful 🙂
Mary x
Claudia
October 9, 2012 at 2:59 pmIt’s raining. There’s a chill. The state has set the stage for this meal. Tonight. Don’t even need to go out for an ingredient. That’s autumn-serendipity!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
October 9, 2012 at 5:27 pmThat potato layer on top just looks so perfectly crisped and browned without being too browned. My hubs would LOVE this one! I love the rustic looks of these pics…totally fall-like and homey and comforting!
Tricia @ saving room for dessert
October 9, 2012 at 4:10 pmSounds and looks perfect! My husband loves this dish but I haven’t tried it with sweet potatoes. Yummy!