Cook: Shepherd's Pie (Chicken Version)

Chicky Shepherd's Pie

Kid's version

Difficulty: 3/5

Made Shepherd's Pie last Friday for the kiddos. I had quite a fair amount of potatoes lying in my fridge for quite sometime so decided to make something to use them up. Chance upon a Shepherd's Pie recipe online (Shepherd's Pie Recipe) so decided to give it a try. 

I made some adjusted based on the ingredients that i have.. it turns out to be a super success!!! My 21 months old son had 3 servings and my 3 years old daughter had 1 1/2 servings (she prefer the fruit salad more, haha, she is more of a fruits and dessert person). When i bring back to my in-law house, my MIL and BIL all give thumbs up!! 

My mashed potato ration to meat is about 50:50. For those who doesn't want so much potatoes, can cut down the amount of mashed potato portion accordingly!

INGREDIENTS:

(Serves 3)

Fits into a 22cm X 11cm baking tray

Mashed potato layer

1. 400g of potatoes, peel off skin and cut into small cubes

2. 1/4 cup of fresh milk

3. 25g of butter

4. 1/2 teaspoon of salt

5. 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper

6. 1 egg yolk

Meat layer

1. 2 tablespoon of olive oil

2. 1 small onion, peel skin and minced

3. 50g carrot, peel skin and cut into small cubes

4. 2 cloves of garlic, minced

5. 350g of chicken breast, minced

6. 1/2 teaspoon of salt

7. 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper

8. 1 tablespoon of all purpose flour

9. 2 tablespoon of tomato sauce

10. 1 cup of chicken broth (for healthier version, you can substitute this with home cook chicken or vegetable soup)

11. A handful of frozen corn

12. 1 tomatoes, remove seeds and cut into small cube

Ingredients for the meat layer

METHODS:

1. Steam the potatoes till soft, mashed using fork and set aside.

Little chef at work-helping to mash potatoes

Little chef at work-helping to mash potatoes

2. Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan, add onions, carrots, corns and garlic. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.

3. Put them at the side of the pan, then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the middle of the pan.

4. When the oil is heated up, add chicken, salt and black pepper. Stir fry until the meat is cooked on the outside (turn white), it will take about 2-3 minutes.

5. Sprinkle the all purpose flour on the meat, toss to coat and cook for 1 minute. Then mix the meat with the carrot mixture earlier. 

6. Add in tomatoes, tomato sauce and chicken broth. Stir to combine and bring to boil.

Combine all the ingredients and bring to boil.

7. Once boiled, reduce the heat to low and shimmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens (as shown in picture). Do not cover the pan with cover at this step. Taste the mixture and see if the taste suits your taste bud, if not add in seasonings as required.

Sauce thickens

8. Spread the meat mixture into a baking tray. 

Meat mixture in baking tray

9. In a clean pan, heat up milk and butter until well combine. 

10. Add mashed potatoes, salt and pepper and stir well until combine.

11. Add in egg yolk and the mixture should looks smooth as shown in picture.

Smooth mixture

12. Top the meat layer with the mashed potatoes, spread them evenly and cover the sides of the pan using a spoon.

Smoothen up the sides so that the meat doesn't come up during baking

13. Bake in preheated oven at 200 degree celcius for 25 minutes or until potatoes has browned (as shown)
14. Remove from oven and let is cool down for 10 minutes before serving.

Done :)