Shepherd's pie

INGREDIENTS:
For the first layer:
600 g lamb mince or lamb meat cut into very small pieces
1 big onion
2 carrots
1 parsnip
2 garlic cloves
2 stalks celery
400 g peeled tomatoes from a can
250 ml lamb broth
1-2 tablespoons tomato puree
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
salt
black pepper
fresh rosemary
fresh thyme

For the second layer:
6 big potatoes, around 1400 g
100 ml milk
70-80 g butter
2 eggs
100 g Cheddar cheese
a pinch of nutmeg
salt
white pepper
bread crumbs

PREPARATION:
First layer
Cut the onion, garlic, parsnip, celery and carrots into small cubes. Mix them all in a deep pan and boil them in a little water and olive oil. When the water evaporates continue cooking in the oil until the vegetables become red in color. Add the thyme and rosemary and then the meat, season with salt and black pepper and cook while continuously stirring until the meat browns. Then add the broth and leave it over low heat until almost the whole liquid evaporates. If you don’t have lamb broth you can use a bouillon cube.

Add the peeled tomatoes (cut into small cubes) and the tomato puree. If you don’t use canned tomatoes also add a tablespoon of sugar. Once the sauce has evaporated add 1 tablespoon of flour and stir until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and transfer it into a baking pan. Choose a pan that will let you place the potato-layer onto the meat.

Second layer
Boil the potatoes in salted water. Run them through a potato press and add the butter while they are still warm so that it can melt. Add the milk and half of the grated Cheddar cheese. Season with the nutmeg, salt and white pepper. Once the potatoes have chilled a bit add the eggs and beat with a hand mixer. Pour the potato mixture onto the meat. Smoothen with a spatula and decorate either with it or with a fork. On top of that sprinkle the rest of the grated Cheddar cheese and the bread crumbs. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C for 25-30 minutes, until it starts changing its color to red. Serve warm.

Shepherd's pie

This is the pie when served in a plate:

Shepherd's pie

Shepherd's pie