Shepherd's Pie - Variations? (red wine, mushrooms, healthy, paprika)

[JrzDefector]

I do a reasonably healthy shepherd's pie that is pretty yummy. Looking for other variations though. What do you put in yours?

Mine include:
-Plain mashed potatoes (made with cream and butter) put over
-Roasted carrots and parsnips mixed in with
-sherry-sauteed mushrooms and ground buffalo

I'm not a fan of peas, but I'm considering adding green beans.

And what do other people do to keep it moist? With the lean buffalo, the mushrooms provided much of the moisture, but it wasn't quite enough.

[Dirt Grinder]

Lamb

[magicshark]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

Lamb

Lamb is always good in my book.

I tend to make mine with leftover roast dinners. So mine has a layer of cubed roast, a layer of onions I sauteed up in butter, occasionally I throw in some zucchini, a layer of gravy and then a layer of mashed potatoes. Sometimes I mix cheddar into the mashed potatoes. Also sometimes I grate parmesan on top and sprinkle some of that Spanish smoked paprika on top.

Maybe there's something in there you can steal, maybe not!

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by magicshark

Lamb is always good in my book...

I call it Shepherd's Pie when it has lamb/mutton and Cottage Pie when it has any other type of meat - shepherds don't tend cows or turkeys (yes, I know what the Wiki says about Shepherd's Pie).

My Shepherd's Pie has lamb and my Cottage Pie has turkey, other than that the recipes are the same (except that I add paprika and a bit of Marmite to the browned turkey for color and flavor).

[JrzDefector]

Originally Posted by magicshark

Lamb is always good in my book.

I tend to make mine with leftover roast dinners. So mine has a layer of cubed roast, a layer of onions I sauteed up in butter, occasionally I throw in some zucchini, a layer of gravy and then a layer of mashed potatoes. Sometimes I mix cheddar into the mashed potatoes. Also sometimes I grate parmesan on top and sprinkle some of that Spanish smoked paprika on top.

Maybe there's something in there you can steal, maybe not!

Smoked paprika for sure. And I would shred the zucchini and let it add to the moisture of the dish.

Very helpful!

[Marlow]

This is what we've been making lately, but using ground beef instead of ground pork:
Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

[Old Town FFX]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

Lamb

That's a traditional Shepherds pie, where as with beef, it's Cottage pie.

Either way, I'd eat it.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

I call it Shepherd's Pie when it has lamb/mutton and Cottage Pie when it has any other type of meat - shepherds don't tend cows or turkeys (yes, I know what the Wiki says about Shepherd's Pie).

My Shepherd's Pie has lamb and my Cottage Pie has turkey, other than that the recipes are the same (except that I add paprika and a bit of Marmite to the browned turkey for color and flavor).

This.

And the lamb should keep it plenty most. Lamb is exceptionally juicy. But you could add celery for good measure.

[Old Town FFX]

Sometimes, as others, I use leftover roast, brown off some pearl onions, finely chopped carrots, a bay leaf, some red wine, beef stock and let things reduce. Then, into a cassoulet, topped with whipped potatoes. It's more like a beef bourguignon with potato crust. Rich and delish, especially on a cold winter night.

[Gerania]

If the buffalo is a little dry, add some grease.