Shepherd's Pie Cheese: Choosing The Perfect Melt

Shepherd's pie is a much-loved comfort food, both in England, where it originated, and in the US. The traditional recipe calls for ground lamb, but it can also be made with ground beef, turkey, bison, or plant-based meat substitutes. The meat is cooked with vegetables in a rich gravy and topped with mashed potatoes.

Many recipes also include cheese, with popular choices being sharp Cheddar, Colby Longhorn, and Parmesan. The cheese is often mixed into the mashed potatoes, but it can also be sprinkled on top before baking.

Cheddar cheese

Adding cheddar cheese to shepherd's pie is a tasty twist on the traditional recipe. This much-loved comfort food can be given an extra kick with the addition of a sharp cheddar, which adds a distinctive tang to the dish.

Cheddar-topped shepherd's pie is a great way to elevate a simple meal into something special. The cheese can be added to the mashed potato topping, or sprinkled on top of the pie before baking. The result is a golden, crispy topping that is sure to impress.

To make a shepherd's pie with cheddar, you will need the following ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Tomato paste
• Flour
• Beef broth
• Worcestershire sauce
• Vegetables of your choice
• Baking potatoes
• Butter
• Milk
• Salt and pepper

First, cook the ground beef with the onion, carrots, and celery until browned. Add in the tomato paste, flour, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce, and simmer until thickened. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes until tender, then drain and mash with butter, milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Finally, assemble the pie by spreading the mashed potatoes over the beef mixture in a baking dish. For an extra cheesy treat, you can mix some of the cheddar into the mashed potatoes before assembling the pie. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheddar cheese and bake until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling.

This recipe is a delicious and comforting meal, perfect for a cold winter's day. The addition of cheddar cheese takes the shepherd's pie to the next level, adding a depth of flavor that will keep your guests coming back for more.

Colby Longhorn cheese

Colby Longhorn is a variety of cheese with a long history, first produced in Colby, Wisconsin in 1885. It is similar in flavour to cheddar but has a softer, more elastic texture and higher moisture content. This is due to the way it is made—while the production method is the same as for cheddar, the curds are kept separate with cold water, preventing them from knitting together. This gives Colby Longhorn a unique, open texture. It is typically formed into a round, long, orange cylinder, though it can also be found in a round disk shape, perfect for slicing and placing on crackers.

When used in shepherd's pie, Colby Longhorn cheese adds a creamy, mild flavour. It melts easily, creating a smooth and rich texture when combined with mashed potatoes. The cheese can be mixed into the potatoes or sprinkled on top of the pie before baking, resulting in a golden, crispy topping.

For a delicious shepherd's pie with Colby Longhorn cheese, try the following recipe:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet, cook and stir together ground beef, onion, and celery until the beef is browned. Drain any grease, then pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Add a can of condensed vegetable soup and thyme, stirring well. Spread mashed potatoes evenly on top. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, then sprinkle with shredded Colby Longhorn cheese and continue baking for about 5 minutes, until the cheese has melted. This recipe combines the heartiness of ground beef and vegetables with the creamy, mild flavour of Colby Longhorn cheese for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Parmesan cheese

For a classic shepherd's pie, start by preparing the ground beef or lamb filling. Sauté some chopped onions in olive oil, then add the meat and cook until browned. Add dried parsley, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper, followed by minced garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Next, add flour and tomato paste, followed by beef broth, and frozen mixed peas, carrots, and corn. Simmer the meat gravy until it thickens.

To make the parmesan mashed potato topping, boil peeled and chopped potatoes until soft. Add butter, half & half, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then mash the potatoes until smooth. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until well combined.

Pour the meat mixture into a casserole dish and top with the parmesan mashed potatoes. Bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, or until the meat is bubbling and the potatoes are golden.

For a crispier topping, sprinkle a handful of grated parmesan cheese on top of the shepherd's pie before baking. This will create a delicious, golden crust.

You can also pipe the mashed potatoes over the filling using a pastry bag to create a perfect, even layer. This method ensures that you don't displace the meat filling by pressing down on it.

Irish cheddar cheese

To make a shepherd's pie with Irish cheddar cheese, you will need the following ingredients: potatoes (Yukon gold or russet potatoes), Irish cheddar cheese, ground beef, onion, celery, stout beer, butter, flour, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and frozen vegetables.

First, cook the ground beef with onion over medium heat. After about 15 minutes, add the celery. Pour in some stout beer and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Add butter, then sprinkle with flour and stir. After a few minutes, add the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. This creates a full-flavoured meat filling.

Next, prepare the mashed potatoes by boiling the potatoes until soft, then drain and mash with butter, buttermilk, egg yolk, and salt. Mix in half of the shredded Irish cheddar cheese. The egg yolk adds a rich and creamy texture.

Place the mashed potatoes on top of the beef mixture in an even layer, then sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese. Broil on low until the top is golden brown.

This recipe is a delicious and comforting meal, perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any time you're craving some Irish flavour.

Sharp cheddar cheese

A traditional shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, but in the US, it's more common to use ground beef. For a vegetarian option, you can also use plant-based ground meat substitutes. The meat is cooked with vegetables, such as onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, and a rich gravy made with flour, tomato paste, and beef broth. This is then topped with mashed potatoes and baked in the oven.

This is where the sharp cheddar comes in. For a shepherd's pie with a cheesy twist, you can add shredded sharp cheddar to the mashed potatoes. The potatoes are boiled, drained, and then mixed with butter, milk, and the shredded cheese. This mixture is then spread over the meat filling in the baking dish. You can also sprinkle more cheese on top for an extra cheesy treat. The pie is then baked until the topping is browned and the filling is bubbling.

Some recipes suggest adding an egg yolk to the mashed potatoes, along with the cheese, for extra richness and creaminess. You can also add other cheeses, such as parmesan, to the meat mixture for an extra savoury kick.

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