'I made Gordon Ramsay's shepherd's pie and the mash was the best I've ever had'

Original shepherd’s pie made with ground lamb, fresh vegetables

Fairly straightforward, Gordon Ramsay’s recipe didn’t disappoint, even if there were only a few minor tweaks to how I normally would make shepherd’s pie.

Those little enhancements, however, led to the best-tasting mash I have ever had.

Normally, my approach to mash is basically boiled potatoes, milk, a knob of butter, and seasoning.

With Gordon Ramsay’s recipe, though, I added in double cream, egg yolks and cheese – and I definitely tasted the difference.

Recipe

Ingredients

For the mash:

• Golden potatoes (about 1.5 lbs)
• Double cream (1/4 cup)
• Butter (three-and-half tbsp)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Two egg yolks
• Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup, minimum)

For the filling:

• Two tbsp olive oil (two Tbsp)
• Ground lamb or beef (1.5 lbs)
• One large carrot (grated)
• One large onion (grated)
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Minced garlic (four cloves)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Worcestershire sauce (several splashes)
• Tomato purée or paste (no greater than a small can)
• Red wine (several glugs)
• Chicken stock (about 1/4 cup)

Method

1. For the mash, boil water (from the kettle), and pour into a pan of peeled and chopped potatoes. Add salt.

2. While that is cooking (for 15 minutes) on a medium-high setting, it’s time to make the filling.

3. Add olive oil to a heated pan on the stove, then fry the meat, garlic and herbs on a medium-high heat.

4. Cook for five minutes, until the meat has turned from red to brown, then add diced carrots and onion. Mix together.

Egg yolks

5. Add in splashes of Worcestershire sauce, tomato purée, red wine and stock.

6. Let the mixture bubble for a few minutes, then turn down the heat.

7. Turning your attention back to the potatoes, drain and mash, then add in double cream, butter, salt, pepper, egg yolks, and cheese. Mash some more.

8. Put on the oven for 200C, turn off the heat for the filling, and spoon the mixture into a shallow casserole dish.

Spoon the mash mixture on top of the meat in the casserole dish.

Line the mash with your fork in wavy lines, then sprinkle on cheese, and bake in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes.

Once cooked, I served the shepherd’s pie to my family – and everybody was pleased.

Do note, the above method is an adaptation of Gordon Ramsay’s original recipe.