Moldovan Shepherd's Pie
Plăcintă ciobănească
A hearty and comforting Moldovan take on shepherd's pie, featuring a rich minced meat filling topped with a creamy mashed potato crust. This dish is a staple in Moldovan homes, often adapted with regional ingredients and family traditions.
🧂 Ingredients
- 700 g Ground beef or lamb
- 1 large Onion(finely diced)
- 1 medium Carrot(finely diced)
- 1 medium Celery stalk(finely diced)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 tablespoon Tomato paste
- 70 ml Dry red wine
- 300 g Tomato sauce
- 200 g Frozen peas
- 2 leaves Bay leaves
- 2 sprigs Fresh thyme(leaves removed)
- 1 sprig Fresh rosemary(finely chopped)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 1 kg Potatoes(peeled and quartered)
- 50 g Butter(for mashing potatoes)
- 100 ml Milk or cream(for mashing potatoes)
- 50 g Grated cheese (optional)(for topping)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil(for sautéing)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
💡 Tip: Ensure oven is fully preheated before baking. - 2
Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
- 3
Add minced garlic and tomato paste to the skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- 4
Add the ground meat to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned, about 10-15 minutes.
- 5
Pour in the red wine and let it evaporate for a few minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 30-35 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- 6
While the meat sauce is simmering, boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain the potatoes well.
- 7
Mash the drained potatoes with butter and milk or cream until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
💡 Tip: Warm the milk/cream slightly before adding to the potatoes for a smoother mash. - 8
Stir the frozen peas into the meat sauce. If using a skillet that is not oven-safe, transfer the meat sauce to a baking dish.
💡 Tip: Ensure the meat sauce is relatively level before adding the potato topping. - 9
Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat sauce. If desired, sprinkle grated cheese over the top.
💡 Tip: You can create decorative patterns with a fork on the potato topping. - 10
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- 11
Let the shepherd's pie rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, use a mix of beef and lamb.
- ✓Adjust the herbs and spices to your preference.
- ✓If the meat sauce seems too thin, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water) before adding the peas.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the meat filling for extra umami.
- Top with a sprinkle of fresh parsley before serving.