Classic Shepherd’s Pie

You can’t go past this classic dish for a satisfying winter weekend dinner.

Ingredients:

·       1 tsp olive oil

·       1 brown onion, halved, finely chopped

·       1 carrot, peeled, trimmed, finely chopped

·       500g lamb mince

·       2 tbsp. plain flour

·       500ml (2 cups) reduced salt beef stock

·       1 dried bay leaf

·       1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce

·       1 tbs. tomato paste

·       Salt and cracked pepper

·       4 Desiree potatoes, peeled, chopped

·       ½ cup low fat milk

Method:
Preheat oven to 200°C.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add lamb mince and cook, stirring to break up any lumps, for 5 minutes or until lamb changes colour.

Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until combined. Add stock, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until sauce thickens. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile: cook potatoes  in a saucepan of boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain well. Return to the pan. Use a potato masher or fork to mash until smooth. Add milk and use a wooden spoon to stir until combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Spoon lamb mixture into a deep  ovenproof baking dish. Top with mashed potato and use a fork to spread over lamb mixture. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until mashed potato is golden brown. Serve immediately.