Rodopi Shepherd's Pie
A hearty and rustic Bulgarian-inspired shepherd's pie featuring a savory lamb and vegetable filling topped with a creamy mashed potato and sirene (Bulgarian feta-style cheese) crust.
🧂 Ingredients
- 750 g Ground lamb
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 2 medium Carrots(diced)
- 2 medium Celery stalks(diced)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 150 ml Red wine(dry)
- 400 ml Beef broth
- 1 tsp Dried marjoram
- 1 large Bay leaf
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 kg Potatoes(peeled and quartered)
- 50 g Butter
- 100 ml Milk(warm)
- 150 g Sirene (Bulgarian feta-style cheese)(crumbled)
- 1 large Egg yolk
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
💡 Tip: Preheating ensures even cooking. - 2
In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground lamb over medium-high heat. Drain off excess fat.
- 3
Add the chopped onions, diced carrots, and diced celery to the skillet. Cook until softened, about 8-10 minutes.
- 4
Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 5
Pour in the red wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer and reduce by half.
- 6
Add the beef broth, marjoram, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- 7
While the filling simmers, boil the potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain well.
- 8
Mash the potatoes with butter and warm milk until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- 9
Stir the crumbled sirene and egg yolk into the mashed potatoes. Mix until well combined.
- 10
Remove the bay leaf from the lamb filling. Spoon the mashed potato and sirene mixture evenly over the lamb filling in the skillet. Create a decorative pattern with a fork if desired.
- 11
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- 12
Let the pie rest for 10 minutes before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using lamb gives this dish a distinct Bulgarian mountain flavor.
- ✓Sirene cheese adds a unique salty tang that complements the lamb.
- ✓Ensure the mashed potato topping is thick enough to hold its shape.
- ✓Allowing the filling to simmer helps to develop its rich flavor.
🔄 Variations
- Substitute ground beef or a mix of beef and pork for lamb.
- Add other root vegetables like parsnips or turnips to the filling.
- For a vegetarian version, use lentils and mushrooms as the base.