Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

• 1.0 carrot
• 4.0 oz parsnips
• 1.0 yellow onion
• 12.0 oz yukon gold potatoes
• 0.125 oz fresh chives
• 1.0 packet butter
• 0.25 cup heavy cream
• 12.0 oz ground beef
• black pepper (to taste)
• kosher salt (to taste)
• 1.0 tablespoon olive oil
• 8.0 oz chicken stock
• 1.0 tablespoon flour
• 1.0 tablespoon tomato paste
• 0.5 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1-inch dice. Mince the onion, rinse the carrot and parsnips before halving them lengthwise and cutting them into 1/2-inch dice. Rinse the chives and thinly slice them. Pat the beef dry with a paper towel to prepare for cooking.
2. Place the diced potatoes in a medium pot, cover with cold water, and generously add salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and cook the potatoes until tender when pierced with a knife, about 10-12 minutes. Once done, drain the potatoes and return them to the pot off heat. Add in butter and heavy cream, then mash the potatoes until smooth, adjusting with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for later use.
3. While the potatoes are boiling, heat a large high-sided ovenproof pan over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add the beef to the pan, seasoning with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper as desired. Cook, breaking it up with the back of a spoon, until browned, approximately 3-5 minutes. Transfer the cooked beef to a bowl using a slotted spoon and set aside.
4. In the same pan used for the beef, wipe it clean if necessary and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add in the onions, carrots, and parsnips, sautéing until they soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste along with the beef and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, ensuring that all flavors meld together. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Reduce the heat to medium under the pan containing the beef mixture, sprinkle flour over it, and stir until fully combined, cooking for about 1 minute. Pour in Worcestershire sauce and chicken stock, stirring until the mixture thickens, which should take about 3 minutes. Once thickened, remove the pan from heat to prep for baking.
6. Spread the prepared mashed potatoes evenly over the beef mixture in the pan. Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for about 5 minutes, or until the top layer is lightly browned. Once finished baking, remove the pan and sprinkle the chives on top. Serve the shepherd's pie family-style while hot and enjoy.