I first ate this dish at a good friend’s house; her father, who was born in England, makes a masterful shepherd’s pie, by the book. And from the first bite I was hooked.
It’s all in the layers: in the combination of meat and sauce with the mashed potatoes that absorb it, in the balance of flavors between the spiced meat stew and the delicate mashed potatoes, but especially because this is one of those foods that leaves you with a nice, warm feeling in your stomach, a feeling so comforting that it’s hard to stop eating this dish that is soft and homey and has disappeared before you know it.
Ultimately, we’re talking about a bolognese paired with mashed potatoes, but the combination of the two is a delight far greater than the sum of its parts.
And by the way, when I asked you last week on Instagram whether it would be better to make a classic shepherd’s pie with meat and mashed potatoes or a special one with sweet potatoes and chicken, the vast majority chose the classic, so here it is, at your request.
If you still want to diversify, make the meal vegan, or kick it up, there are tips and suggestions after the recipe.