AL ROKER'S CHEDDAR-CRUSTED SHEPHERD'S PIE

Al Roker's Cheddar-Crusted Shepherd's Pie image

Number Of Ingredients 16

5 cups mashed, boiled Yukon potatoes (shortcut: You could use instant potatoes)
1/2 cup sour cream
3 ounces cream cheese
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb (or beef)
1 can diced tomatoes with juice (16-ounce can)
1 bag small bag of frozen vegetable medley (carrot, peas, onion, corn)
1 cup good stout beer
1 cube beef bouillon
1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with a enough water to make a paste
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 tablespoons chives

Steps:

Start with bowl of mashed Yukon potatoes. Add sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chives, egg yolk, teaspoon of salt, and teaspoon of black pepper and stir until smooth. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat.
Add lamb and cook until browned. Pour off any excess grease, and season with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes with liquid and vegetable medley and cook for 5 to 10 minutes
While that is cooking, in a small saucepan heat beer and add beef bouillon. Bring up to a simmer and add cornstarch mixture. Then add that to lamb mixture and simmer until thickened.
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour in lamb mixture. Spoon mashed potatoes over and make sure the potatoes cover all meat mixture. Top with 1 cup cheese and sprinkle paprika over the casserole. Pre-heat oven to 350'F.
Cook covered with foil until hot. If the the ingredients are still hot when it goes in the oven, bake 25-30 minutes. If the casserole ingredients are cold, bake for about 45 minutes.
Uncover and place under broiler until cheese is bubbly and golden, about 2 minutes.