Classic Shepherd’s Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that’s baked until golden and crisp. Shepherd’s Pie is wonderful any time of year but is especially great for St. Paddy’s day.

Serves 6

sipandfeast.com

INGREDIENTS
3 ½ pounds russet potatoes peeled
1 ¼ cups Parmigiano Reggiano grated, divided
¾ cup heavy cream plus more if too dry
1 stick butter melted
salt and pepper to taste
3 large egg yolks

For the filling:
2 pounds ground lamb
1 ½ cups frozen peas
1 large onion diced
3 celery ribs diced
3 medium carrots diced
5 cloves garlic minced
3 ounces tomato paste
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 12-ounce bottle of Guinness
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves only
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped, leaves only
2 cups low-sodium beef stock
salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
For the Mashed Potatoes:
Fill and stockpot with potatoes and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender (about 25-30 minutes).

Rice the potatoes in a large bowl. Combine with the heavy cream, melted butter, and 1 cup of parmesan cheese. Taste test the potatoes and season very well with salt and pepper to taste. Once satisfied with the taste, mix the egg yolks into the potatoes.

For the Shepherd’s Pie:
Preheat oven to 400f and set one rack in the middle and one towards the top ⅓ of the oven.

While the potatoes are boiling make the filling. Heat a large heavy pan or pot to medium-high heat then add the lamb.

Cook until well browned (about 7-10 minutes), then break up the lamb with a wooden spoon or meat masher. Next, add the carrots, onions, and celery along with a pinch of salt. Saute until the veggies are soft (about 5-7 minutes) then add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.

Add the tomato paste, stir, and cook for 3 minutes. Next, add the Guinness and turn the heat to high. With a wooden spoon scrape the bottom of the pot to remove all of the brown bits. Cook until the liquid has almost completely evaporated (about 3-4 minutes).

Turn the heat down to medium and add the flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until there is no white flour remaining in the pan. Add the beef stock, thyme, rosemary, peas, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced by half.

Taste test the filling and adjust salt, pepper, thyme, or rosemary if required.

Add the filling to a 9×13″ baking dish. Spread the mashed potatoes on the top and with a fork or spoon fluff the potatoes making mounds or points. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of grated parmesan.

Bake for 20 minutes in the center of the oven. Move the dish towards the top of the oven and broil for 1-3 minutes or until well browned but not burnt. Watch carefully! Let the shepherd’s pie sit for 10 minutes before eating so that it can settle.

Note:
– Taste test the mashed potatoes before adding the egg yolks to ensure proper seasoning. Be sure to also taste test the lamb filling and make any adjustments to the salt, pepper, or herbs as needed.

Beer, chocolate, lard and masa harina are critical ingredients – no beans!

[Stock photo]

From Michael Chiarello:

INGREDIENTS
3 pounds beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
Gray salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus 1 teaspoon
1 teaspoon ground cumin, plus 2 teaspoons
2 tablespoons chili powder, plus 2 tablespoons
Masa harina (Mexican corn flour)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lard (Manteca)
4 red onions, peeled and minced
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 jalapeno peppers, sliced thin with seeds, stems removed [use chipotle in adobo – watch amount]
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 to 3 (12-ounce) bottles beer
1 (12-ounce) can diced tomato in juices
1 quart chicken stock
3 (12-ounce) cans black beans
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into large chunks

INSTRUCTIONS
Cut the chuck into ¾-inch pieces, or, to save time, have your butcher do this for you. Place the chuck in a large bowl. Season liberally with pepper (about 20 turns of the pepper grinder) and grey salt to taste– remember half of this will come off in the pan. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, and 2 tablespoons of the chili powder. Mix this well and coat the meat with the masa harina (this is a ground hominy flour common to Mexican cuisine and easily found in the Mexican food sections of many grocery stores). The flour will thicken the sauce and give it a specific, Mexican taste.

Preheat a cast iron Dutch oven on the stove over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and then the coated meat, spreading it evenly so it covers the bottom of the Dutch oven in 1 layer. Leave it alone, without turning it, so the meat will brown and caramelize. Meanwhile, add the lard. The meat has a lot of moisture in it, so a good amount of steam will come from the pan before it is caramelized. As it browns, slowly turn each piece with tongs. Once all sides are caramelized, remove the meat from the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a cookie sheet to cool, leaving juices in the Dutch oven to saute vegetables. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 5 minutes over medium heat until they start to caramelize and get soft. Add the jalapenos and allow to cook for 2 more minutes until soft. Add the tomato paste. Some of the same spices as were used on the meat will be used in the sauce. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of the cumin, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon, the oregano, and 2 heaping tablespoons of the chili powder. Add beer. Stir to incorporate everything. Add diced tomatoes, and stir. Then add the reserved meat. Add chicken stock. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours until meat is wonderfully tender. Strain juice from the black beans, add the beans to the chili pot and bring up to simmer. Then add chunks of bittersweet chocolate. Stir until it melts. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days

This Spanish Chickpeas with Beer is probably the most flavorful and unique one yet. We´re talking an insane amount of flavor, super easy to make and all done in 30 minutes.

Try adding other vegetables at the end, even sausage.

Serves 4

spainonafork.com

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
1 small onion
6 cloves garlic
3 tomatoes
2 cans chickpeas 15.5 oz / 440 grams each
12 oz bottle beer 33 cl
1/2 cup vegetable broth 120 ml
1 tsp ground cumin 2 grams
1/4 tsp saffron threads .17 grams
2 bay leaves
pinch sea salt
dash black pepper
fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the extra virgin olive oil

Meanwhile, roughly chop the onion, roughly chop the garlic and roughly chop the tomatoes

Add the onion and garlic into the hot pan with the olive oil, mix together, after 4 minutes add in the ground cumin, give it a quick mix, then add in the tomatoes and continue to mix, after 5 minutes and the tomatoes are lightly sauteed, turn off the heat and let the mixture cool

Meanwhile, drain the cans of chickpeas into a colander and rinse under cold water

Once the mixture has slightly cooled off, add into a food processor, along with 1/4 cup (40 grams) of the chickpeas, 1/2 cup vegetable broth and season with sea salt & black pepper, pulse until you end up with a smooth puree

Heat the same pan with a medium heat, add in the puree, the beer and the saffron, mix together and simmer, after 5 minutes add in the drained chickpeas and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together, then add in the bay leaves and place a lid on the pan, lower to a low-medium heat and simmer for 10 minutes

Transfer into shallow bowls and garnish with fresh parsley