Shepherd's Pie

One of Nick's favorite new dishes is shepherd's pie, apparently he has always liked it but it wasn't something that I grew up with nor was it something I had ever had or thought to make. Our favorite restaurant in town is called Nine Irish Brothers and they serve a delicious shepherd's pie and so I decided to make it for him and I have fallen in love with this recipe. I have learned to love the element of tomato paste and the flavor that it adds to recipes and it works really great for this one in particular.

Ingredients:
For the potatoes:
1 1/2 lbs. russet potatoes
1/4 cup half-and-half
2 ounces unsalted butter
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 egg yolk

For the meat filling:
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced small
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp freshly chopped rosemary leaves
1 tsp freshly chopped thyme leaves
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup fresh or frozen English peas

Directions:
1. Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds.
3. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined. 
4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling.
5. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine.

6. Add the beef, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute.

7. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly. Add the corn and peas to the beef mixture.

8. Spread the beef mixture evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula.

9. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Food Network Online