How To Make Mutton Masala Shepherd's Pie

20 mins
3 hours
easy
4

Recipe by

Jeff Baker

Ingredients

450 g minced mutton
2 tbsp. ghee or olive oil
2 tbls. Tikka masala paste (store bought or home made)
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 tsp. ginger puree
1 large onion, peeled and diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
2 sticks celery, diced
4 ripe tomatoes skinned & chopped
1 tsp. corn flour mixed with a little cold water
250 ml mutton, lamb or chicken stock
2 tsp. Garam Masala powder
1.25 kg old crop potatoes
100 g butter
Splash warm milk infused with a little saffron (optional)

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Introduction

An unusual take on a British classic, the rich spices go perfectly well with mutton, adding extra depth of flavour to this traditional shepherds pie, complimented by the saffron scented buttery mashed potatoes. Try topping the mash with scrunched up buttered filo for extra crunch.

Method

Method for the mutton

Preheat oven to 140°C for fan assisted or 160°C for ovens without a fan (gas 3).
Heat the fat in a large, heavy-based casserole dish over a medium-high heat, then fry the meat in batches until well browned then set aside.
Turn down the heat, add the vegetables, garlic & ginger to the pan and lightly colour then add the Masala paste & tomatoes continue cooking to a pulp scraping the bottom of the pan to move any tasty bits stuck to the bottom.
Return the mutton to the pot, cover with the stock then bring everything to a simmer & thicken with the corn flour by stirring into the simmering stock then cover with a tight fitting lid & place into the oven for 1½ hours.
Remove the lid, stir through the Garam Masala and set aside to cool.

Method for the topping

Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized chunks. Boil in well-salted water until tender, approximately 25 minutes then drain well and return to the hot pan to steam dry. Mash with the cold diced butter and warm milk, season with salt & ground white pepper to taste.
Preheat the oven to 180°C for fan assisted or 200°C for ovens without a fan (gas 6).
Spoon the mutton filling mix into a ovenproof pie dish then cover evenly with the mash. Use a fluted nozzle in a piping bag to create plenty of pointy edges to get nice & crispy when baked.