Shepherd’s Pie Topped with White Cheddar & Pancetta

If you love mashed potatoes and beef you’ll probably enjoy this Shepherd’s Pie recipe. And if you want something to do with leftover ground beef from last night’s spaghetti and meat sauce this is also an easy preparation meal from your leftovers.

Here’s the recipe starting from scratch. I just used what vegetables I had available and if you prefer different vegetables you can easily substitute your vegetable preferences into this dish.

Ingredients:

• Ground Beef
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or oil substitute)
• 1 can of diced tomatoes (salt-free if available)
• 1 tbsp of minced garlic
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 6-8 mushrooms chopped
• 2 small carrots chopped
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp basil
• 3 large potatoes peeled
• 1/4 cup milk/almond milk/coconut milk
• 1 tbsp of butter (unsalted if preferred)
• 1/2 cup of grated white cheddar cheese
• 3 slices of fried pancetta crumbled

Directions:

1. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, oregano and basil to the ground beef and mix in a bowl
2. Preheat frying pan on medium heat with olive oil
3. Cook the ground beef for 10 minutes while stirring
4. Add the mushrooms, onions and carrots to the pan and cook for 5 minutes while stirring with the ground beef
5. Add the can of diced tomatoes to the pan and let it simmer for 10 minutes
6. Add the cooked ground beef and vegetable mix to a casserole that can be put in an oven
7. Boil the peeled and chopped potatoes in a pot of hot water until cooked 20-30 minutes
8. Remove water from pot and mash the potatoes in the pot
9. Add the milk/almond milk and butter to the mashed potatoes on low heat and stir in with a pinch of salt and black pepper
10. Add the mashed potatoes on top of the layer of ground beef and vegetables and spread evenly in the casserole dish
11. Sprinkle the white cheddar cheese on top of the mashed potatoes
12. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the Shepherd’s Pie until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melted (approx. 10-15 minutes).
13. After baking add the crumbled pancetta on top of the Shepherd’s Pie
14. Serve with your favourite side or eat and enjoy as is.

This dish is basically a British meat pie with mashed potatoes on top. I added the white cheddar cheese and pancetta to add a non-traditional twist to the dish and if you don’t like cheese or pancetta you will still enjoy the dish without it. This meal is perfect with a side salad or just to enjoy on a cold winter night.

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