This Easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe is a classic in my kitchen! I first heard about Shepard’s Pie when we moved to the US many years ago. I had no idea what it was about. I thought it was a very fancy and unique dish. And one day, we went to eat at a restaurant, and I told my husband: I think I’m going to have Shepard’s Pie, and he immediately replied: Really? It’s like your pastel de carne (Venezuelan name). I was like… WHAT? It always amazes me how the same dish, maybe with some slight variations, can be called different names depending on the country. Ok, I finished confessing my ignorance of Irish cuisine for today. In my favor, I can say that now I know the difference between Shepard’s Pie and Cottage Pie. Cottage Pie is made with beef, and Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb Ha! So basically, this is a Cottage Pie… I know…this is confusing. Either way, it’s amazingly delicious! Anyway… “Pastel de Carne” or “Shepard’s Pie” or “Cottage Pie” … this dish is comforting food at its best! The main difference between the traditional version, known as Shepard’s pie, is that I add a layer of mashed potatoes at the bottom as well. As a potato-obsessed-carb-o-holic this is heaven. Plus, I use beef instead of lamb. My whole family ♥ this Easy Shepherd’s Pie. Even my husband and oldest daughter are not big fans of ground beef. The thing is that they don’t like the texture of it, so in order to please everyone, I really need to break the meat into very small pieces—a serious workout. I also make sure that the meat filling is super well seasoned and add tons of Parmesan cheese to the mashed potatoes. Every time I make this dish, we have to eat it with fried plantains. It’s kind of a tradition. The cheesy mashed potatoes + the savory meat filling + the sweetness of the plantains = Perfection! I know thousands of Shepard’s Pie recipes exist, but I still wanted to share my easy version. I hope you give it a try because this time of year begs for a warm and hearty casserole. Happy Cooking!!!
