what do add to shepherd's pie to boost it?

[NoahVale]

as a child my dm would put baked beans in, but i am not going to do that
i think carrots, celery mushrooms
any other suggestions?

Small diced courgette works because it just absorbs the flavours from the gravy. Agree on carrots and mushrooms. Peas go in well too.

Garlic cloves boiled in with the potatoes and mashed together. Strong cheddar stirred through the mash topping and I second a spoon of marmite in the mince.

Lea & Perrin's

@smashburgers
Sainsbury's do a 5% fat mince. Never needs draining.

That's what I was going to say!

I put a tablespoon of brown sauce in mine

More shepherds??

A pile of crispy chips on the side.

I like Worcester sauce, a tiny bit of mustard, and peas and carrots in mine.

That is neither cottage or shepherds pie!

Marmite, beef stock pot, bisto.

Garlic, cinnamon etc have no place at all.

Cinnamon. I think I read that in an old Delia Smith recipe.

You can wash the tomato off baked beans

Tin of condensed mushroom soup!

I add loads of mushrooms, bacon and garlic and I have been known to stir half a jar of red pesto in as well. Top with creamy mash and grated cheese. Heaven....

Bits of actual shepherd

Red wine stock cube/red wine

I like a parsnip and or sweet potatoe chopped up fairly small, adds a little bite and sweetness

Worcester sauce and chilli powder

Worcester sauce

I add a tin of baked beans and a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the meat. I’ve gone off just mash on top.

I like carrot and swede mash on top.

I also do sliced new/baby potatoes with grated cheese.

i always make two. One to eat, and one to freeze.

personally I think extra veg in with the meat is just gross and sloppy.

Yes, we use a Delia recipe with cinnamon and swede. Never cheese on top though, that ruins it. Cheese and lamb do not go IMO. So we leave off the suggested topping

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/international/european/british/shepherds-pie-with-cheese-crusted-leeks

I put red wine in the mince, use onion and garlic only, rich gravy stock like knorr and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
Potatoes get mashed with butter and single cream, salt and pepper then put all together - before it goes into the oven I put little monoliths of cheese through the potato in lots of places, this gives a lovely explosion of cooked cheese when you eat it
Serve with plenty of gravy too ... and a glass of the red wine ... or two 🤩

Grated nutmeg in the mince.

I use a tonne of brown lentils to bolster mine. I do the same with many other dishes. Use red kidney beans or a bean mix for other dishes where appropriate as well to change it up. Basically, I try and use as much pulse as I do meat in a dish.