Old-Fashioned Shepherd’s Pie
Servings Prep Time
4servings 15minutes
Cook Time
55minutes
Servings Prep Time
4servings 15minutes
Cook Time
55minutes
Ingredients
Potato and Parsnip Topping
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a large heavy saucepan. Add the lamb and cook over a high heat, stirring well with a wooden spoon to break up the meat, for about 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Push the meat to one side of the pan and add the onion. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and lightly browned.
  2. Add the carrots, celery and leeks and stir well, then add the tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, stock and lentils. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Partially cover with a lid, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. While the meat mixture is cooking, preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and prepare the topping. Place the potato and parsnip chunks in a saucepan and pour over boiling water to cover by 5 cm. Bring back to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 15–20 minutes or until the potatoes and parsnips are very tender. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until hot.
  4. Drain the potatoes and parsnips well, and return them to the pan. Pour the hot milk over them, then mash them until they are completely smooth. Beat in the margarine and add pepper.
  5. Remove the meat mixture from the heat, add the chopped parsley and stir well. Spoon into a large ovenproof dish, about 2.5 litre capacity. Top with the mashed vegetables, spreading in an even layer. Bake shepherd’s pie for 20 minutes or until bubbling and lightly browned. Serve hot, garnished with parsley sprigs.
Recipe Notes

Old-fashioned shepherd’s pie variations: For a special occasion, you can replace the lamb with lean ground venison. Omit the leeks and stir 250 g fresh or frozen peas into the meat mixture after it has simmered for 15 minutes. In the topping, you can replace the parsnips with celeriac.

Per serving: 501 calories, 34 g protein, 23 g total fat, 8 g saturated fat, 74 mg cholesterol, 40 g total carbohydrate, 16 g sugars, 11 g fibre, 593 mg sodium

This well-balanced dish of lean meat, vegetables and pulses provides plenty of soluble fibre, mainly from the lentils but also from the parsnips, carrots and leeks. Soluble fibre controls levels of cholesterol and sugar in the blood. Carrots provide vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. Cooking carrots makes it easier for the body to absorb and use the beta carotene.