FAQs
What is an interesting fact about shepherd's pie? ›
According to the Oxford Companion to Food, once upon a time, Scotland made its shepherd's pies with pastry instead of mashed potatoes. Indian cooks once considered shepherd's pie to be a perfect dish for tiffin (a word used to mean a light snack in British India).
Why do they call it pate chinois? ›
Most workers ate their meat, potatoes and corn separately but workers of mainly Asian origins, combined their rations to create shepherd's pie, a more communal dish. The French-Canadian railway workers liked this new concoction, adopted the dish, and called it “pâté chinois”, which loosely translates to Chinese pie.
How long can you keep shepherd's pie in the fridge before cooking? ›
In the fridge Cook up to point 11 in the recipe below and you can keep this recipe in the fridge for 2 days. Then bake as normal. How to freeze this Shepherd's Pie Once your pie is assembled (point 11 in the recipe below) you can chill and then freeze for up to one month.
What is the heritage of shepherd's pie? ›
The name “shepherd's pie” first appeared in an English cookbook of 1877 that attributes the dish to Scotland while complaining that it is “too farinaceous,” since the potato topping was evidently itself topped by a wheat-flour shell.
What is a shepherd's pie called when it is made from beef? ›
The terms shepherd's pie and cottage pie have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.
Why is shepherds pie popular in Ireland? ›
"Shepherd's Pie is one the most traditional Irish dishes I know of," she said. Culhane said the meal became popular in Ireland for a simple reason: It's easy to make, it makes a lot and it's cheap. Although there are many variations, most Shepherd's Pies are made with ground meat, potatoes, carrots, peas and onions.
Is shepherd's pie made from beef or lamb? ›
Shepherd's Pie is the sort of food that brings a smile to everyone's face! That saucy, deeply flavourful filling, that creamy potato topping, and that awesome golden cheese crust.… While Shepherd's Pie is traditionally made with lamb, beef is just as tasty in this recipe.
Why does shepherds pie not have a crust? ›
Shepherd's pie is considered a savory pie even though it lacks a flour-based crust because mashed potatoes serve the same function as a crust. The mashed potatoes form a layer on top of the meat filling, providing a protective and flavorful barrier between the filling and the outside.
Is cottage pie and shepherd's pie the same? ›
The main difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's pie is cottage pie uses ground beef, and Shepherd's pie uses ground lamb. Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes. To make Shepherd's pie using this recipe, simply substitute ground lamb.
Plain and simple, pâté is a mixture of seasoned ground meat, seafood, poultry or vegetables cooked down into a spreadable texture. Pâté is pronounced pah-tay which is simply French for 'paste'.
What part of the pig is pâté? ›
It uses several different cuts of pork – pork belly, pork liver and bacon rashers. This rich pork pâté recipe has a wonderful meaty texture and is perfect alongside bread and chutney. It uses several different cuts of pork – pork belly, pork liver and bacon rashers.
Can shepherds pie be reheated twice? ›
In fact, the Food Standards Agency recommends reheating your food just one time. Imagine reheating your leftover Shepherd's Pie to find out that it's got a massive chunk of frozen mince in the middle? Not only is it going to be disgusting but you're putting yourself at risk of food poisoning.
Is it safe to eat shepherd's pie that was left out overnight? ›
According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.
Can you freeze already cooked shepherds pie? ›
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.
Where did pie originally come from? ›
From Egypt to Rome via Greece
The Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent a dish close to what we know as a pie today. They had a honey filling covered in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye or barley. A recipe for chicken pie was also discovered on a tablet carved prior to 2000 BC.
Is cottage pie British or Irish? ›
So, if you ask nearly anyone what country shepherd's pie comes from, you're bound to get the answer, "Ireland." However, cottage pie probably originated in Scotland, in the North of the UK. Meat pies were common in this region and were topped with pastry crust before the 1700s when potatoes were introduced as a crop.
Is shepherds pie eurasian? ›
From curry devil and sugee cake to pies with meatballs and sausages topped with crusty puff pastry, a Eurasian Christmas is often a bountiful banquet. Other dishes include ham, salads, roast meats, shepherd's pie and feng, a pig offal curry.
