From My Irish Table

By Cathal Armstrong

Da calls this dish Shagger’s Pie. It was a much-wished-for dish in our house and, like Irish stew, always came with Piccalilli served on the side. Shepherd’s pie is an interpretation of a French dish called hachis parmentier. What makes it truly Irish is that there are potatoes in the stew as well as on top of it. Most versions you see are made with beef, and ground beef at that, but that doesn’t really make any sense because why would shepherds have beef? Shepherds tend lambs. To impart a touch of elegance, I make the pie with a rich stew of diced lamb shoulder (leg meat works well, too), lamb stock, and aromatic vegetables. No peas, please. They get lost in the mix.

The dish does involve some preparation, but the lamb stock can be made well ahead and frozen for up to 6 months and the stew can be made 2 days in advance. Prepare and add the mashed potatoes just prior to baking. It is a good idea to have a food mill or potato ricer on hand.

Cathal Armstrong’s Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

Stew

1 1/2 pounds lamb shoulder, trimmed of all fat and sinew, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 carrots, peeled and chopped 4 celery stalks, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups lamb stock or store-bought beef broth
3 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (2 cups)
2 large fresh bay leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves (see Notes on Herbs, opposite)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves

Mashed Potatoes

4 russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 1 tablespoon salt
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
Piccalilli, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Servings: 6

Brown the lamb: Pat the lamb cubes dry on all sides with paper towels and season well with salt and pepper. In a large slope-sided sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil until it shimmers. Distribute the meat evenly in the bottom of the pan without crowding it and don’t disturb it for several minutes. If you stir the cubes too soon, they will release water and the meat will boil instead of browning. After 3 or 4 minutes, turn the cubes over and brown them on the other side for another 3 or 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a bowl and return the pan to the heat.

Sweat the vegetables: Add the onion, carrots, and celery, stirring with a flat-edged wooden spatula. As the vegetables cook, water will release and deglaze the pan. Use the spatula to scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Sweat the vegetables for 4 to 5 minutes. They should be translucent but still a bit firm.

Cook the stew: Stir in the flour and allow it to brown lightly for about 2 minutes. Add the lamb stock, continuing to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and oregano. Return the meat and its collected juices to the pan. Bring the liquid to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cover the pot. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, until the meat is fork tender. Discard the bay leaves and transfer the stew to an 8-cup baking dish.

Boil the potatoes for mashing: Place the quartered potatoes and salt in a pot and cover them with cold water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat to medium and allow the potatoes to simmer uncovered until cooked through, about 40 minutes. To tell if they are cooked, take a piece out and cut it in half to see if it’s soft in the center.

While the potatoes are cooking, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Mash the potatoes: Drain the potatoes, return them to the pot, and stir them over the heat for a couple of minutes. This ensures that they are dry. Rice the potatoes into a mixing bowl. Add the egg yolks, butter, and cream, whisking until the mixture is smooth. Work quickly while the potatoes are hot so they don’t become gummy and starchy. Adjust the salt seasoning to taste and allow the potatoes to cool.

Top the pie: Fit a large pastry bag with a large star tip. Spoon the mashed potatoes into the bag. Moving in one direction, pipe large rosettes of potatoes over the lamb mixture, in neat rows or around the perimeter of the baking dish. Go over your work and pipe rosettes wherever you see any holes–you want to create a good seal. Alternatively, you can dollop the potatoes over the stew and spread them with a spatula to seal it.

Bake the pie: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set the pie on it and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the potatoes are nicely browned and the filling is bubbling. Let the casserole rest for 15 minutes; serve with the piccalilli on the side if you’d like.

Recipe from My Irish Table by Cathal Armstrong. Order your copy here.