Best Acorn Shepherds Pie Recipes

EASY RUSTIC SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH THE CHEESIEST MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• potatoes: boil the potatoes in a large pot of salted water until fork tender. Sometimes I'll throw in a couple cloves of garlic in with the potatoes too. Drain, mash and mix in the remaining mashed potatoes ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• cook the meat and veggies: heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground lamb and crumble the meat using a wooden spoon. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the meat browns, drain any excess grease leaving just 1 tablespoon. Add the mirepoix and season the veggies with a small pinch of salt and allow the veggies to cook down until translucent, about 7-9 minutes. Add the garlic and let cook another 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• beef gravy: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425ºF. Sprinkle the ground meat mixture with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch, stir to combine and let cook for 15 seconds before adding the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, herbs, bay leaf, and beef stock. Allow the gravy to come to a simmer before reducing the heat to low and letting it simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the herbs, stir in the peas, taste and adjust with salt and pepper as desired.
• bake and serve: Drop large dollops of the prepared mashed potatoes on top of the beef gravy then smooth out gently. Bake for 15 minutes then, finish it under the broiler if you want it to be golden brown on top. Let cool for several minutes before serving.

SHEPHERD'S PIE IN A HALF-ROASTED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large pan over medium heat, add oil and onion. Saute onion until soft, but not brown. Add ground lamb to pan and continue cooking for 12 minutes or until cooked through and browned. Season with salt and pepper. In a separate, small pan over medium low heat add 2 tablespoons butter and corn kernels. Cook for 3 minutes and season with salt and pepper.
• Cut butternut squash in half and place skin side down on a baking pan. Roast the butternut squash for approximately 40 minutes at 400 degrees F or until very soft. When finished, cool slightly and scoop out meat from the skin with a large spoon. In a bowl, mash the butternut squash and add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper, place aside.
• Peel potatoes and place in a large pot. Add enough cold water to cover potatoes by 1 inch. Put pot, covered over high heat and bring to a boil until a thin bladed knife or toothpick can be inserted easily, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash potatoes with 4 tablespoons of butter and 1/4 sour cream. Season with salt and pepper and put aside.
• Cut acorn squash in half the long way and remove seeds with a spoon. Cut a small piece off the back of the squash so it will lay flat on a baking sheet. Roast cut side up for 40 minutes at 400 degrees F until soft.
• To assemble, place equal amounts of corn in each acorn squash to form the first layer. To create the second and third layers, place a generous amount of ground lamb and butternut squash on top of the corn. Top with mashed potatoes using either a spoon or pastry bag and pipe. Place filled squash on baking sheet pan and roast in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F or until potatoes are browned. Serve hot with brown gravy.

ACORN SQUASH AND HONEY PIE WITH CORNMEAL CRUST

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds. Set a steamer rack inside a large pot with 2 inches of simmering water, and steam squash until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Scrape flesh from the shells of the cooled squash, and puree in the large bowl of a food processor until smooth. Add salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Add eggs, 1/2 cup milk, and honey. Pulse until thoroughly combined.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough 1/8 inch thick. Drape over pie pan, trimming edges to fit rim of pan. Create decorative edge as desired. Repeat with remaining dough and pie pans. Mix egg yolk and remaining tablespoon milk; brush over surface of dough.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Divide filling among pie crusts. Transfer pies to lower rack in oven, and bake for 10 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees. and bake until filling is barely set, 25 to 30 minutes more; it will continue to cook as it cools. If crusts get too dark before the custard is done, make a tent with aluminum foil around crust. Transfer pies to wire rack to cool. Serve cold or at room temperature.

CORNED BEEF SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• PREPARE your favorite recipe for seasoned mashed potatoes, to yield 2 1/2 to 3 cups (TIPS: Keep it basic: Butter, milk, salt and pepper); BEAT one large egg yolk then fold well into potato mixture; SET aside; PREHEAT oven to 375 F; SPRAY a 2.5 quart casserole dish (or a deep-dish 10-inch pie plate, or an 8" x 8" square baking dish) with non-stick cooking spray.
• STRAIN 1 cup leftover corned beef broth into a small mixing bowl; RESERVE approximately 2 cups corned beef, 1 cup cabbage, and 1 cup carrot (set aside); INTO strained broth, add 1/2 teaspoon spicy brown mustard, 1/4 teaspoon prepared horseradish, 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander, and salt and freshly ground white (or black) pepper to taste; VIGOROUSLY whisk 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch into broth to make a slurry, until dissolved and smooth.
• TRIM fat from reserved corned beef; CUT corned beef and reserved vegetables into bite-sized pieces, to yield 2 cups each; PEEL and chop one small onion; MINCE 1 1/2 tablespoons parsley.
• MELT 2 tablespoons salted real butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat; STIR in the chopped onion and one tablespoon of the parsley (reserving 1/2 tablespoon for the garnish); SAUTE until onions have softened.
• VIGOROUSLY whisk in the prepared broth slurry all at once into the saucepan mixture until consistently blended; RAISE heat to medium-high and bring to a boil while whisking until slurry is thickened; ADD meat and vegetable mixture to saucepan; FOLD ingredients together without disturbing, just until evenly blended;.
• SPREAD mixture levelly into prepared baking dish.
• TOP evenly with mashed potatoes, decorating into swirls using a flexible spatula (or use a fork if desired, to create grooved swirls); DOT with grated cold butter if desired, for a golden, buttery top crust.
• SPRINKLE remaining 1/2 tablespoon minced parsley over casserole.
• BAKE casserole for 30 minutes; SPRINKLE French-fried onions over top and bake for just 2 minutes longer (be careful not to burn French-fried onions!); ALLOW to cool and set for 5-7 minutes before cutting.
• SLICE, serve and enjoy!