Beef and Lentil Shepherd's Pie Recipe | Nutritious Comfort Food! (2024)

FAQs

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

Oven reheating: Remove film wrap completely. Preheat oven to 180°C or 350°F. You can place your ready meal on a suitable oven tray or serving plate if you prefer. Reheat for approximately 20 minutes.

Freezer Instructions: After baking, let pan cool to room temperature, then cover tightly with foil and place in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, reheat the shepherd's pie (still covered with the foil) for 1 hour in a 350ºF oven.

Why is my shepherd's pie runny? Generally, this is caused by using too much stock.

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one. For a really crisp, golden topping, flash under the grill for a few mins before serving.

But provided you heat it for the right amount of time and at the correct temperature, you should be okay to reheat your food multiple times. That being said, every time you reheat food, the quality may decrease as reheating has been known to alter the consistency or taste of food.

Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge; refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Wrap cooled pie in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with contents and date; place in freezer. For best quality, serve within 2-3 months; however, shepherd's pie will remain safe indefinitely, stored at 0° F. When ready to eat, thaw for about 24-hours in the refrigerator.

I made shepherds pie a couple days ago. I left remainder in the fridge overnight and ate it yesterday. It was lovely.

Can I reheat shepherd's pie in an air fryer? ›

An air fryer can be an effective tool for reheating Shepherd's Pie. The key is to use a moderate temperature and to protect the pie using foil, ensuring it heats evenly while maintaining moisture.

You can also freeze the entire shepherd's pie directly in the container it came in the freezer for up to 6 months. We recommend placing it in the fridge to thaw overnight before you plan to cook, but you can also cook from frozen.

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.