What's the secret ingredient that makes your shepherd's pie great?

[franch]

I'm trying to 'perfect' a few basic dishes - it's always the personal touches that make these things great so please share yours

Feel free to post entire recipes if that makes more sense

Really GREAT quality meat, mixed beans, worcestershire sauce, sea salt or onion salt, not normal salt.

Add cottage cheese or soft cheese to the mash - oh, and toasted breadcrumbs!! top with finely grated cheese.

I have used marmite as a veggie alternative to stock cube.
My mum has added beer to the sauce - v nice
Baked beans are good too
Cant beat a bit of worcestershire sauce
For the mash add a bit of cream cheese - mmm

When i make it i tend to throw in all the left overs in the fridge!!

the cap adds extra flavour

i use campbells veggie soup with my mince.

another cinammon in the mince fan here, it transforms it.

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Sheperds from the yorkshire DALES

drnortherner, do you pre wash your sheperds?

mushroom ketchup

Carrots, onions and celery sweated very slowly as the base, good quality minced beef, apple juice and taste of beef as liquid. Simmer for a long time. Top half swede, half potato, done in a ricer to amke super fluffy mash, and lots of cream and nutmeg.

I also have two:

1. add roast potatoes leftover from sunday in the mash or some sweet potatoes.

1. add a spoonful of mint sauce to the lamb mixture (also shepherds pie should def be made with all your random leftover veg).

'Pie, pie' is my 18mth old daughter's favourite dinner

Yes of course Hifi - you don't know where they ahve been

i have some very hairy ones in the freezer.

beef oxo and hp sauce with a strong cheddar topping - yummmm oh and lashings of gravy

Lots of veg with the (soya) mince, and aked beans/butterbeans.

Ketchup (1-2tbs)

roasted red peppers, carrots, courgettes, swede, peas.

Sometimes just good potato mash and sometimes parsnip/sweet potato.

A sprinkle of sea salt and dribble of olive oil over the top before baking.

Handful of green lentils. It gives it more texture.

cumin

I would second the potato ricer. Marvellous for mashed potato.

Defo leeks in the mash and a good 1/2 inch of cheese on the top.

A good dollop of marmite!

Worcester sauce a must, IMHO

Spiced parsnip and leek mash, with cumin and garam masala.....dribble.....

Blend peas and sweetcorn and mix it in so the kids have no idea.......dp doesn't notice either and they all say how nice it is......