Shepherds pie - sides?

[Maloneyb]

What sides would you serve with a shepherds pie?
the mince itself I tend to put carrot, onion, peas and sometimes mushrooms in.

best sides?

Either as is or with kale or broccoli

Broccoli and garlic bread 😍 (just a ciabatta - we love Aldi's, has just a handful of ingredients), some garlic and parsley and butter

Broccoli and cabbage

Cottage pie is pickled red cabbage and brown sauce

Extra buttery fresh bread

Never had sides with itself as it contains everything needed for a ‘meal’. If someone gave it to me with sides, I’d be really perplexed. I wouldn’t say anything but it would be a bit of an internal wtf moment.

I think it’s that the veg inside is limited - probably not a portion and certainly not two.

Pickled red cabbage. Where I’m from that’s the only acceptable accompaniment to shepherds pie

Do people have small portions of shepherds/cottage pie to then top up with sides? Our helpings are a meal in itself.

For those saying you don’t get full portions of your 5 a day in a shepherds pie, what do you do if you have things like chilli, pasta dishes?

Green beans and baby sweetcorn

We tend to have salad with those latter two. It makes a nice, fresh, crunchy contrast.

Green veg, I put carrots, mushrooms, onions in mine (finely diced), usually green beans/tenderstem on the side but at the moment I'm enjoying shredded Brussels , sliced by the food processor, sauteed for a couple of minutes with garlic, could probably chuck some mint in too to go with the lamb

Shepherds pie with baked beans and branston pickle would probably be my final meal.

But if I was doing green veg, cabbage, peas, green beans would be my order of preference

Gotta be green veg for me. Ideally peas, french beans (if in season), Savoy or pointy cabbage. Broccoli at a push.

Cheese on top? Yes or no?

Cabbage for me.

Yes but only a bit to make it go verrrry crispy

Have salads.

We have spring greens, broccoli, carrots , peas with cottage pie, definitely wouldn't serve it on its own.

I've just eaten it with baked beans - the ultimate in comfort food

Loads of Brussels sprouts...

I prefer to have a smaller portion of the main so that I can have additional stuff!

Pasta - I only really eat in a "using it up" bake so loads of veg but small portion so I have garlic bread and salad
Chilli - again small portion would add tortilla chips, rice, guac, salsa...

Just find it more enjoyable

Broccoli or green beans plus carrots. But I don’t put veg in the actual pie. I think that spoils the texture.

@Mimilamore I've just made the Sophie Dahl lentil one ( we aren't veggie) - done with a pike of steamed baby sprouts till soft - knob if butter stirred in and some kalettes. delicious!!

If I can be bothered then green beans and/or cabbage.

I also sometimes make the shepherd's/cottage pie in giant Yorkshire puddings. Yum.

We had Shepherd's pie for tea tonight and had broccoli and cauliflower on the side. It has peas, sweetcorn and carrots in. I just added veg to side to reduce porridge size, sometimes serve on own. Some times serve with greenbeans. And always with Hendersons relish.

I’m with you - I don’t put peas in, but will serve them on the side. Peas only take a view minutes to cook, so purring them in the pie and cooking them for 20/30 minutes surely ruins the flavour and the nutritional content?

I’ll also serve with broccoli sometimes, or maybe leeks. Quite like sweetcorn with it as well. But I’d generally only do one ‘side’. And, because my grandmother did, I’ll sometimes have Worcestershire sauce on the top! You should try offering that to a French person - very exotic 🤣