A historical main dish from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Serve with it tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce or any other kind that you prefer. A good, plain dish.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Put the beef into a stewpan with any gravy that you may have also saved, a lump of butter, a bit of sliced onion and a seasoning of pepper and salt, with enough water to make plenty of gravy
thicken it, too, by dredging in a tablespoonful of flour
cover it up on the fire, where it may stew gently, but not be in danger of burning
Meanwhile there must be boiled a sufficient quantity of potatoes to fill up your baking-dish, after the stewed meat has been transferred to it
The potatoes must be boiled done, mashed smooth, and beaten up with milk and butter, as if they were to be served alone, and placed in a thick layer on top of the meat
Brush it over with egg, place the dish in an oven, and let it remain there long enough to be brown
There should be a goodly quantity of gravy left with the beef, that the dish be not dry and tasteless
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Stewing the beef gently breaks down tough connective tissue into gelatin, creating rich, succulent meat and gravy. The flour slurry thickens the gravy through starch gelatinization, preventing a watery filling. Mashing potatoes with milk and butter while hot creates a smooth, cohesive topping, and the egg wash undergoes the Maillard reaction in the oven, producing a golden-brown crust with complex savory flavors.
The meat filling can be prepared up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. The mashed potato topping can be made 1 day ahead and stored separately. Assemble the pie, apply egg wash, and bake when ready to serve.
Store leftover shepherd's pie covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire dish covered with foil in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes until heated through.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The meat filling can be prepared up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. The mashed potato topping can be made 1 day ahead and stored separately. Assemble the pie, apply egg wash, and bake when ready to serve.
Store leftover shepherd's pie covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire dish covered with foil in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes until heated through.
0 notes
Sign in to share your thoughts and connect with the community
Sign In to CommentLoading notes...
