Lucky Irish Shepherd's Pie

St. Patrick's Day isn't the only day you'll want to have some of this wonderful Shepherd's pie! It's cozy and comforting anytime of year. This recipe makes a very large and filling casserole so serve it to a crowd or have some plans for the leftovers. I planned to make Irish Lamb Hand Pies with what was left of this large casserole. The hand pies turned out spectacular. The lamb stew and the mashed potato topping is wonderful inside a crispy flaky crust.

We are lucky to live in an area where we can buy local lamb from ranchers. It's truly amazing how much more economical it is to buy lamb this way and we know the source. This is most definitely a win win! The locally sourced lamb I buy is flavorful but not gamey in any way. We really enjoy it.

You can,of course, make this tasty Shepherd's pie with beef or even goat if you like and although not traditional I'm sure it will still be great!

I start off with a good sized leg of lamb and cube the meat to about 1 1/2 inches. I season it liberally with salt and pepper then sear it quickly in a very hot dutch oven on the stove top.

I want to create a nice brown glaze on the bottom of my pan and on the outside edges of the meat. This caramelizing creates so much flavor! The brown bits in the pan will deglaze when I add the stock and all of the yummy goodness will season the stew.

Click on the pictures for more details.