I enjoy making and eating Shepherds Pie but must admit I cheat and add a packet mix, lately I have found them tasteless, any good tips for a really tasty Shepherds Pie.
From my mom, i always add a tin of baxters royal game soup to the mince, or heinz oxtail soup and grated cheese on top. recently in an attempt to get my family to eat more veg, i stir some grated carrot in the mince (sneaky i know!).
i would love to add chilli, but have 3 awkward eaters and a veggie! I make 3 different types of shepherds pie, one normal,one without cheese or onions and without mashing the tatties (middle son only likes boiled tatties!) and finally one with veggie mince....
I add some Henderson's relish to the lamb mince and onions while cooking, then add cream, pepper and salt to the mash, as well as a good ounce or two of butter, it's lovely!.........
Kikkoman fermented soy sauce is great for putting a bit of zip into the mince. I always use dried chillies when we forget fresh. Real key is to have a good old traditional butcher
Same as hawkwalk above...worcester sauce, tomato ketchup, oxo cube and herbs. I also add a layer of baked beans to mine (between the mince and the potato)....not to everyones taste but we love it.
I did lamb mince&mash (just not on top of eachother lol) yesterday -
Little bit of sweet curry spices (garam masala, cumin, ginger, black pepper, cayenne) only about a teaspoonful altogether; onion, a squidge of garlic and fry off with the meat. Then add a dessertspoonful of instant bisto granules which adds some depth and also thickens to make the sauce go further, and a tin of ratatouille veg plus a tin of water and simmer for a few minutes.
I dry fry the mince then drain all the fat off.
My filling consists of the dry mince, fried onion, cooked mushrooms, frozen peas and/or diced cooked carrots, a sprinkled dry beef oxo cube....then my secret ingredient....a tin of Campbells condensed mushroom soup.
I always make my mash with a small tub of double cream