Twins Take On… Our Italian Twist On The Classic Shepherds Pie

The Alberti Twins | 9th April 2016

image1-3Everyone Loves Pie 😉 

This is one of the nations favourite dishes and is a classic in its own right. Here is our Italian Twist on the classic Shepherds Pie.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 Large onion finely chopped
  • 2-3 Carrots finely chopped
  • 750g Lamb mince
  • 2 tbsp Tomato purée
  • Generous splash of Worcestershire sauce
  • 5ooml Beef stock
  • 300g Polenta
  • 150g Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 100g Butter
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Rosemary finely chopped

Method 

Heat the oil in a skillet or pan and add the chopped onion and carrots. Cook for a few minutes on a high heat and then add the lamb mince. When browned add the tomato purée and Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Fry off for a few more minutes and pour in the beef stock and chopped rosemary. Bring to a simmer cook for around 30 minutes.

Here is our Italian twist, adding rosemary to the lamb mince gives it that extra deep flavour it needs and instead of using potatoes for the mash on top we use Polenta… it gives it a richer, creamier texture and consistency and works perfectly. Add the boiling water to the polenta in a pan, add the grated Parmigiano Reggiano, butter and salt and pepper. Mix together with a wooden spoon and add the water bit by bit to get the consistency right. You want a nice smooth thick consistency. Polenta is such an under used ingredient which is so versatile, tasty and quick to make.

Now add the mince into an ovenproof dish and pour over the polenta on top covering the whole surface area of the lamb mince. Smooth out with a wooden spoon to the edge and flatten. Ruffle the polenta with a fork to give it a fancy finish.

Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for around 30 minutes until the polenta has browned slightly and the mince is bubbling.

Serve hot and generously and enjoy this beautiful Italian twist on the classic Shepherds Pie. It really is amazing if we do say so ourselves 🙂

Buon Appetito…

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