What can be more hearty and satisfying than meat and potatoes combined? And shepherd’s pie is
just that American favorite, brought to us from England. In my kitchen, it takes on a south Asian
twist and I spice up the ground beef with garlic and ginger. After all, the English had colonized
India for a very long time and I think they’d appreciate this evolution of their recipe! Each bite
will give you mashed potatoes, perfectly seasoned ground beef and vegetables – comfort food at
its finest.

Ingredients (Shepard’s Pie)

• 2 pounds potatoes (about 4 large potatoes), peeled and quartered
• 8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter
• 2 medium onion, chopped
• 1-2 cups vegetables—diced carrots, corn, peas or mushrooms
• 2 lbs ground round beef
• 2 tsp. Garlic crushed or paste
• 2 tsp ginger grated or paste
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice

Method

1.  Boil the potatoes: Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in medium sized pot.
   Cover with at least an inch of cold water. Add a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil,
   reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender (about 20 minutes).
2. Sauté onion in butter until golden brown. Add in the ground beef with ginger, garlic, chilli powder and salt. Cook until no longer pink. Add the Worcestershire sauce and simmer on low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
3. Add in other vegetables now and stir well. Peas and corn take very little time. So
   stir for another 5 minutes or so.  Mash the cooked potatoes: When the potatoes are done cooking, remove them from the pot and place them in a bowl with the remaining 4 tbsp of butter. Mash with a fork or potato masher, and season with salt and pepper.
4. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread the beef, onions, and vegetables in an
   even layer in a large baking dish (9×13). Spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the ground beef.
5. Sprinkle some grated cheddar cheese on top and place in a 400°F oven and cook
   until browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes.
6. Serve and enjoy!