Shepherd's Pie .- Lamb or Beef, just as good!!...

 

Shepherd's Pie:  Whether you prefer Lamb or Beef... Shepherd's or Cottage Pie is a wonderful dish, easy to prepare, looks amazing and tastes great!

Now this was not my original menu selection as I made a celebratory Mexican dish, Chiles en Nogada so had made a "Picadillo Compuesto" as the filling and had some leftover and it was too good to not recycle, and recycle I did!

To make this you'll need:

• 3-4 garlic cloves, from garlic press
• 1 lb potatoes, cut in small cubes
• 2 cups beef broth
• 3 oz bacon, sliced fine (optional)
• ½ onion, chopped
• 1.5 lbs ground beef or ground lamb
• 2 carrots
• 1/2 cup corn frozen or canned
• 1/2 cup peas frozen
• 1.5 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
• ½ cup flour

Spice Blend

• 1 teaspoon sea salt or Kosher
• ½ teaspoon pepper, to taste
• ½ teaspoon rosemary dried, crushed leaves
• 1 teaspoon Thyme dried

For the Mashed Potatoes    

• ½ teaspoon sea salt fine grind
• ¼ cup butter salted
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ bulb garlic roasted, or from press

Cheese Topping

• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese / sharp / Swiss white, grated
• 1/2 cup Grana Padano, Parmessano Regiano 
• your choice

Instructions

• Chop up the bacon and, peel and slice the carrots, and dice the onion. Shred the cheese if not using pre-shredded. 
• Peel and chop the potatoes into medium sized pieces. I recommend putting the potatoes in the 3 cups of beef stock to keep from browning.
• Mix up your seasoning mix. 
• Add the potatoes and beef broth to the inner pot of the Ninja Foodi and set to high pressure for 10 minutes. Make sure to turn the valve to seal. When done, immediate release and strain the potatoes in a colander. Reserve the beef broth. Gently break apart the potato chunks to allow the steam to escape. Set aside. NOTE: You can also cook in a pot in either broth or salted water. The entire dish can be prepared in any pot.
• Turn the Ninja Foodi on and set to high saute. Allow to heat up for a minute or two and add bacon and diced onions. Saute, stirring occasionally, until the bacon starts to render its fat and the onions begin to cook.
• Add in the ground beef, seasoning blend, ½ of the bulb of roasted garlic, and the Worcestershire sauce. Continue to saute until ¾ of the way done, breaking the meat up as you stir. 
• Add Sliced Carrots. Continue to cook meat mixture for about 5 minutes or until carrots are just becoming soft.
• Add in Frozen Peas and Frozen Corn. Stir to combine.
• Sprinkle on ¼ cup of flour and stir to incorporate. Repeat with the remaining ¼ cup of flour and cook for about 2 minutes.
• Slowly add in the beef stock, about 1 cup at a time. Stir until the flour has absorbed most of the stock before adding the next cup. Repeat until all cups are used. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the Ninja Foodi to remove the browned bits (called fond), they add tons of flavor to the sauce.
• Reduce the heat to medium saute and cook until thickened. While that is happening, mash your potatoes. Keep an eye on the ground beef mixture and if it is boiling, reduce the heat to low. 
• Mash the potatoes either by and or with a hand mixer. Add remaining ½ bulb of roasted garlic and ¼ cup of heavy cream, ¼ cup of butter and ½ teaspoon salt.
• Turn the Ninja Foodi off. Layer the mashed potatoes on top of the ground beef mixture. Top with shredded cheese.
• Air Crisp on 360° F for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve and Enjoy!