
What You'll Need
- Olive Oil: Just 1 tbsp to cook your veggies and meat down.
- Ground Lamb or Beef: 1 pound, cooked till crumbly for that meaty base.
- Onion: 1 big one, chopped up to add that sweet kick.
- Garlic: 3 cloves, finely chopped for extra taste.
- Potatoes: 2 small ones, skinned and cubed for some bite.
- Beef Stock: 7 cups, split up to make your rich base.
- Rosemary & Thyme: 1 tsp each, dried and smashed to let out their smell.
- Tomato Paste: 2 tbsp for that deep, rich flavor.
- Bay Leaf: Just 1, to give your soup a hint of something special.
- Pepper & Salt: ½ tsp each, to make everything pop.
- All-Purpose Flour: ¼ cup to make your soup nice and thick.
- Frozen Carrots and Peas: 2 cups, just like in the original pie.
- Frozen Corn Kernels: 1 cup, defrosted to add a bit of sweetness.
Cooking Method
- Step 1:
- Warm up 1 tbsp olive oil in a big pot over medium heat. Throw in your chopped onion, minced garlic, and ground lamb (or beef). Cook everything until the meat turns brown with no pink spots left, then pour off any extra fat.
- Step 2:
- Toss in your cubed potatoes, 6 cups of beef stock, rosemary, thyme, tomato paste, bay leaf, pepper, and salt. Mix it all up and let it bubble gently. Cook without covering for about a0 minutes so the potatoes get soft and all the flavors blend together.
- Step 3:
- In a separate bowl, mix the last cup of beef stock with ¼ cup flour until it's smooth. Pour this into your pot while stirring to thicken everything up. Add your frozen carrots, peas, and thawed corn. Let it all simmer another 5 minutes.
- Step 4 (Potato Puffs):
- Heat your oven to 425°F. Boil the russet potatoes until they're soft, drain them, and let them cool down. Mash them real smooth or push through a ricer if you want them super fine. Mix in 3 tbsp butter, heavy cream, egg yolks, salt, and pepper. Drop small scoops onto a baking sheet with parchment. Melt 1 tbsp butter and brush it over the tops, then bake for 15 minutes until they're golden.
- Step 5 (Putting It All Together):
- Pour the hot soup into bowls and put a few potato puffs on top of each one. Sprinkle with fresh parsley to make it look pretty. Serve it hot and enjoy that Shepherd's Pie taste in every spoonful.
How to Serve and Store
- Always serve this soup hot with fresh parsley and potato puffs floating on top for that true Shepherd's Pie feel.
- Grab some crusty bread or whip up a quick salad to make it a full meal.
- Got leftovers? Keep the soup in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. When you want more, just warm it up on the stove or in the microwave. Add a splash of broth if it's gotten too thick.
- Store those potato puffs in their own container and warm them up in a 350°F oven for a few minutes so they get crispy again.
Extra Advice
- Don't eat meat? Use lentils instead of ground meat and switch to vegetable broth for a plant-based version.
- Want some heat? Toss in some red pepper flakes or a few drops of hot sauce to give it a kick.
- Fresh veggies work too – just swap out the frozen peas and carrots, but cook them a bit longer so they get tender.
Pro Chef Insights
- Gordon Ramsay says to go with fresh thyme and rosemary when making anything Shepherd's Pie related – they pack more punch.
- Jamie Oliver loves adding Worcestershire sauce to boost the beefy taste in this kind of dish.
What Makes This So Good
- This soup brings all those filling, homey Shepherd's Pie flavors into one steaming bowl.
- It's super simple to make and works great on cold days or when you need to cook ahead.
- The mix of steamy soup and crunchy potato puffs creates something special your whole family will ask for again.
Different Ways to Make It
- Try using sweet potatoes in place of regular ones for a different twist on the flavor.
- Want it richer? Pour in some heavy cream or milk right before you serve.
- Sprinkle some grated cheddar on top or add a spoonful of sour cream for extra goodness.