Shepherd’s Pie Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day

Shepherd's Pie. Linda Gassenheimer/TNS

By Linda Gassenheimer From Tribune News Service

Around this time of year with St. Patty’s Day coming up, shepherd’s pie comes to mind. The pie has a savory meat filling topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. It’s usually made with lamb or ground lamb, but it is also made with ground beef and then called cottage pie. There’s always a discussion whether the pies are Irish or English. The answer is both. Either way, enjoy this quick dinner.

I used 95 percent lean ground beef. If you prefer lamb, ask the butcher for lamb cubes cut from the leg and cut these into half-inch cubes.

To shorten making the mashed potato topping, I cook the potatoes in the microwave and mash them in a food processor. It saves time and an extra pot to wash. If you don’t have access to a microwave, add the potatoes to a saucepan of cold water, cover with a lid, and boil 10 to 15 minutes, until they are soft.

Helpful Hints

• You can use 6 cloves of garlic instead of minced garlic.
• You can use any type of shredded cheese.
• The recipe calls for a small amount of tomato paste. Freeze any extra for another meal.

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