Shepherd's Pie with a Red Wine, Cheddar, and Root Vegetable Topping

A variety of root vegetables presents a lovely, complex twist on a classic dish. Very rich and nutty from the Cheddar, this is perfect for company—but inexpensive. Finishing it in the oven melts the cheese and yields a golden, slightly crisp topping. To make it a bit lighter, you can drain off some of the fat from the meat mixture, cut the amount of cheese, and use 2% milk in the potato purée. For convenience, make the root vegetable topping in advance. If you have extra meat filling, serve it in hamburger buns for an elegant, autumnal take on sloppy Joes.

Beef

Main Course

Ingredients

2 slices white bread		15 cloves garlic, 8 left whole and 7 finely chopped, divided
2 cups whole milk, divided		1/4 cup tomato paste
2 1/4 pounds ground beef		2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt, divided (plus salt for cooking the potatoes)		1 cup red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
18 grinds black pepper, divided		1 can (28-ounce) whole peeled tomatoes, with juice
1/4 cup unsalted butter, divided		2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 1/4 cups finely chopped red onions (about 1 large)		6 1/4 cups large chunks of peeled root vegetables, such as 3 russet potatoes, 1 small turnip, 1/4 rutabaga, and 1/3 celery root
2 cups finely chopped peeled carrots (about 2 large)		1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup finely chopped peeled parsnips (about 3 small)		2 1/2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated

directions

Prep: 1 hour 30 min (90 mins) Total:

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1
In a large bowl, mash together the bread and 1⁄2 cup of milk. Gently knead in the meat, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 10 grinds of pepper, mixing well. Heat half of the butter in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, add the meat-bread mixture, pushing down with a wooden spoon, and brown, 10 to 11 minutes. Add the onions, carrots, parsnips, and finely chopped garlic, and sauté until the onions have softened, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and flour and stir until the flour disappears, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat, add the wine, and then cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring. Add the tomatoes and rosemary and bring to a boil, about 2 minutes, gently mashing the tomatoes with a potato masher. Carefully pour into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on low until the flavors are blended together, 4 to 6 hours. Remove and discard the rosemary sprigs and—using a large ladle or spoon—skim the grease off the surface.
2
Meanwhile, place the root vegetable chunks in a medium-size saucepan, cover with cold water by about 2 inches, and salt generously. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and reduce to a simmer over medium low; simmer until very tender, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, add the remaining 11⁄2 cups milk, remaining garlic, the nutmeg, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, and 8 grinds pepper to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Drain the root vegetables over a colander in the sink, then pour the root vegetables back into the dry pot. Mash with a potato masher, pouring in the milk mixture. Stir until a smooth purée forms.
3
Heat the oven to 400°F. Place a 9x13x2-inch baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Ladle the meat filling into the baking dish. Cover with the root vegetable mash, spreading evenly. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake until the cheese melts, the potatoes turn golden brown, and the meat sauce thickens, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve.

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Shepherd's Pie with a Red Wine, Cheddar, and Root Vegetable Topping

Ingredients

directions