Discover the warm embrace of Shepherd's Pie

Casseroles are a quick dish that will delight any fan of tasty and hearty home cooking. In my home, we prefer a shepherd's pie made with potatoes and ground meat, with peas and celery mainly reigning supreme.

Shepherd's pie is always my go-to whenever I have little time for elaborate dishes and want everyone to be well-fed. You can experiment with the add-ins - some add sausage, others opt for mushrooms, and there are also options with bacon. However, I choose the traditional shepherd's pie with ground meat and green peas.

Shepherd's pie is undoubtedly one of the kings among comfort food dishes. It wraps you in warmth and satisfies even the loudest growling stomachs. Its history dates back to the 18th century, and its roots come from the simple, peasant English kitchen. Initially, it was clever to use leftovers, mainly meat and potatoes.

If you're looking for an idea for a warm, aromatic, and nourishing meal, you must try making a shepherd's pie. It's a dish that even my picky father-in-law, who usually avoids dishes other than the classics, liked.

Ingredients:

• 500g of ground meat,
• 500g of potatoes,
• 3 carrots,
• 200g of frozen peas,
• 2 stalks of celery,
• 1 onion,
• 2 cloves of garlic,
• half a cup of tomato puree,
• 2 tablespoons of butter,
• 4 tablespoons of milk,
• approximately 250ml of broth,
• thyme,
• rosemary,
• salt, pepper,
• oil for frying.

How to prepare:

1. In a pan, sauté sliced carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.
2. Add the ground meat and fry until the meat browns.
3. Season with salt and pepper, and add the tomato puree and broth. Simmer the whole for about 10 minutes.
4. Add the green peas and mix.
5. Peel, wash and boil the potatoes in salted water.
6. After cooking, drain them and mash into a purée with the addition of milk, butter, salt, and pepper.
7. Place the meat with the sauce in an ovenproof dish and lay the prepared potato purée on top.
8. Place the dish in an oven preheated to 180 degrees Celsius and bake for about 20-30 minutes until the potatoes are slightly browned.

Serve the prepared shepherd's pie warm. Enjoy!