Shepherdess' Pie

Name: Shepherdess' Pie
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups bechamel sauce (see note); 1 medium onion, minced; 1 egg, beaten; 1/4 cup cracker crumb (smash crackers in a small plastic bag); 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (I like fresh best, but dried will work); 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon thyme; 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper; 1 teaspoon vinegar; 1 lb ground beef (or lamb); 4 cups mashed potatoes; 1/2 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded (orig. recipe called for kefalotyri but I've never found that, any cheese will work, but jack or font); 1 teaspoon paprika

13 ingredients

6 steps

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups bechamel sauce (see note)
1 medium onion, minced
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup cracker crumb (smash crackers in a small plastic bag)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (I like fresh best, but dried will work)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 lb ground beef (or lamb)
4 cups mashed potatoes
1/2 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded (orig. recipe called for kefalotyri but I've never found that, any cheese will work, but jack or font)
1 teaspoon paprika

Directions

1

Start by making Bechamel Sauce: Melt 1/4 cup butter, then whisk in 3 tablespoons flour; cook for a minute, then slowly stir in 1 1/2 cups warm milk (can microwave milk a minute beforehand to warm it). Cook this, stirring constantly till it thickens and coats spoon. Set aside till ready to use.
2

Combine 3/4 cup of Bechamel Sauce with onion, egg, cracker crumbs, parsley, salt, thyme, red pepper, and vinegar.
3

Add this sauce mixture to meat and toss with two forks to mix lightly (don't overwork meat) Put this all into a casserole dish, level off top and make a slight indent with back of spoon (just like with meatloaf).
4

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, occasionally using a spoon to remove fat that collects in the indentation.
5

Combine potatoes with remaining Bechamel Sauce.
6

Remove meat from oven, sprinkle with the cheese, top with potatoes. Sprinkle with the paprika. Bake an additional 20 minutes.