Pastel de Papa Paraguayo
A comforting and flavorful Paraguayan shepherd's pie variation, featuring a rich ground beef filling layered with creamy mashed potatoes and topped with melted cheese.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Potatoes(peeled and quartered)
- 500 g Ground beef
- 1 large Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic cloves(minced)
- 1/2 medium Green bell pepper(finely chopped)
- 2 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1.5 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 1 tsp Black pepper(or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 1/2 cup Milk(warm)
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
- 150 g Paraguayan cheese(grated (or queso blanco/mozzarella))
- 2 large Hard-boiled eggs(sliced)
- 1/4 cup Green olives(diced (optional))
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and mash them with butter, warm milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 2
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and chopped green bell pepper, and cook for another 2 minutes.
⏱️ 7 minutes - 3
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 8 minutes - 4
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.
⏱️ 7 minutes - 5
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a baking dish.
- 6
Spread half of the mashed potatoes evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- 7
Layer the meat filling evenly over the mashed potatoes. Arrange the sliced hard-boiled eggs and diced olives (if using) on top of the meat.
- 8
Top with the remaining mashed potatoes, spreading it evenly to cover the filling completely. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.
- 9
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 40 minutes - 10
Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
⏱️ 10 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For an extra rich flavor, you can add a tablespoon of tomato paste to the meat filling.
- ✓If you don't have Paraguayan cheese, queso blanco, mozzarella, or a mild cheddar can be used as substitutes.
- ✓Ensure the potatoes are well-mashed to achieve a smooth and creamy texture for the topping.
🔄 Variations
- Add a layer of corn kernels to the meat filling for added sweetness and texture.
- Incorporate a pinch of paprika or chili powder into the mashed potatoes for a subtle kick.